During today’s parliamentary session, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya disclosed the total expenditure incurred by the state on foreign trips undertaken by former Presidents of Sri Lanka.
According to the data presented, the highest expenditure was recorded under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure (2010–2014), amounting to Rs. 3,572 million. The year 2013 saw the peak spending, with Rs. 1,144 million allocated for his foreign travels.
The breakdown of expenses for other former Presidents is as follows:
- Maithripala Sirisena (2015–2019): Rs. 384 million
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa (2020–2022): Rs. 126 million
- Ranil Wickremesinghe (2023–2024): Rs. 533 million
- Anura Kumara Dissanayake (Sep. 2024–Feb. 2025): Rs. 1.8 million
The figures highlight significant variations in travel expenses among different administrations, with recent years showing a notable decline in state-funded presidential trips.
