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Ministers
warned against foreign trysts In a toughly-worded circular despatched to all ministers and even provincial councillors, President Kumaratunga has also asked that only one Cabinet Minister represent the Government at National Day receptions, an old rule that is freely being flouted. She has said that no minister should attend a diplomatic function where the host is other than the Head of Mission. The directives come in the wake of a string of incidents involving UPFA Ministers, including JVP Ministers, travelling overseas without the knowledge of the Foreign Ministry. In one instance, a minister had checked out of a hotel overseas without paying the bill, saying Sri Lanka's High Commission will pick up the tab. The High Commission has refused to do so, and now the Foreign Ministry was asking relevant ministries to pick up the bills of their Ministers. (Please see Political Editor's column on page 10). The restrictions on foreign visits come as ministers had travelled to the same country in successive turns and on some of the occasions the multiple visits have prompted the respective countries to query the need for such frequent visits, the circular released by the President said. The move is aimed at preventing ministers making direct requests from Sri Lanka missions abroad and sometimes, to the ministries of foreign governments to provide facilities for their visits. The circular pointed out that in future foreign missions would not entertain direct requests of ministers to make arrangements for their visits and all requests would have to be directed through the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry will take into consideration foreign relations implications before a decision is taken on the visit. The directive regarding the foreign visits comes in the wake of a series of unplanned visits by ministers in the recent months. More than 30 foreign trips have been undertaken by Ministers during the past five months. However, a Presidential Code of Conduct restricting foreign visits by UPFA Cabinet Ministers to four per year, has already been flouted. Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers have also been directed not to enter into negotiations or agreements with foreign governments or organisations without Cabinet approval and Foreign Ministry clearance in future. The President's directive comes in the wake of some Chief Ministers entering into Memoranda of Understanding during their official visits abroad with provincial entities in foreign countries without prior consultation of the Foreign Ministry. In a further move to instil some discipline into runaway UPFA ministers, the President has directed that no requests be made to the Foreign Ministry to support visa applications for private visits, and no government institution should also issue official letters supporting visa applications for private travel. Ministers, deputy ministers and ministry officials planning to travel on official visits overseas should submit their requests to the Foreign Ministry two weeks ahead of the visits, according to these new guidelines. Ministers have been advised not to accept invitations for receptions and luncheon or dinner engagements extended by diplomatic missions at a level below the rank of Ambassador, High Commissioner or Head of Mission. Meanwhile, President Kumaratunga has left New York for London while Mr. Bandaranaike returned to Colombo. Deputy Minister Dilan Perera remained in NewYork. |
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