President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s return to Sri Lanka on May 6 aboard a private jet sparked debate in Parliament today, with opposition MPs seeking clarification on who funded the trip.
SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna questioned Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath on whether the Vietnamese Government bore the cost.
In response, Minister Herath clarified that the return flight was funded by a UN-affiliated Vietnamese Buddhist society, not the Vietnamese Government itself.
He explained that President Dissanayake had initially declined to attend the UN Vesak festival as chief guest, citing his need to return to Sri Lanka to vote. “However, after travel arrangements were offered by the Buddhist society, he agreed to participate,” the minister said.
Minister Herath assured Parliament that no Sri Lankan public funds were spent on the trip. He also noted that while earlier reports indicated the Vietnamese Government’s involvement, the travel was coordinated with the government and arranged through the UN-affiliated Buddhist committee in Vietnam.
President Dissanayake returned to Colombo on an Embraer Legacy 600 jet, a medium-range executive aircraft. (Newswire)