Politicians take wing again

The National New Year season is the traditional flight time for politicians and despite the multi-faceted crises facing the country, many are taking off this time also.

Several ministers and opposition UNP Ranil Wickemesinghe will be overseas during the New Year season.

Mr. Wickremesinghe is on an official visit to Bhutan while Minister Sarath Amunugama has gone to United States, M. Sachitanandan to France and Kumar Welgama to Vietnam for official work.

On private visits abroad are Ministers Anura Bandaranaike in London, Milinda Moragoda in London, P.Chandrasekeran and Arumugam Thondaman in India, Maithirpala Sirisena in Canada and Bandula Basnayaka in the Caribbean for the World Cup.

Ministers Dullas Allhaperuma and Mahindananda Aluthgamage too are out of the country, The Sunday Times learns. Several other ministers are packed and ready to go to the Caribbean if Sri Lanka qualifies for the semi finals in the World Cup.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama is due to leave for Italy soon after the new year on an official visit. President Rajapaksa will also go to Italy for a three-day visit and a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI.

Sacked Minister Mangala Samaraweera is in Singapore.