Prez returns home amidst controversy over participation at Royal funeral

‘UNP Deputy Leader not on the delegation though being in the UK’

President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Office says that Presidential Advisor on Climate Change and Deputy Leader of the UNP, Ruwan Wijewardene, hadn’t been a member of the government delegation to the UK for the funeral ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II, held at Westminster Abbey.

According to the President’s Office, the former UNP MP Wijewardene had been on a private visit, though he joined a meeting addressed by President Wickremesinghe on Monday (19).

The President’s Office said so in response to criticism both in and outside Parliament, of the cash-strapped country squandering precious foreign exchange at a time the country was virtually begging for USD 2.9 bn loan facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The President’s Office emphasized that Wickremesinghe had been accompanied by his Private Secretary Sandra Perera and his Director on International Relations, Dinouk Colombage. In addition to them, the President’s official doctor also accompanied the delegation.

First Lady Senior Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe accompanied the President at her personal expense, the President’s Office said.

The President’s Office issued the clarification in the wake of Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Kumara Welgama condemning the government for wasting money. Lawmaker Welgama pointed out that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, too, had been accompanied by large delegations during foreign visits.

President Wickremesinghe yesterday (21) morning returned to the country. The Sri Lankan delegation left the country on Sept 17 on the invitation of the UK, the President’s Office said, adding that some lawmakers and a section of the social media sought to mislead the public (SF)