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Diplomats ordered to cut travel expenses
Sri Lankan diplomats have been told to cut down on travel expenses immediately following excesses in certain sectors, External Affairs Ministry (EAM) Secretary Karunatilleke Amunugama said yesterday. Orders to this effect have been sent to the heads of Sri Lankan missions, instructing them and their staff to avoid unnecessary travel, he said.
“Each and every staff member on the diplomatic payroll must obey this order,” Mr. Amunugama said. He said the fresh orders were based on a routine half-year assessment of travel expenses by the Sri Lankan diplomats and they have been told to restrict their travel requirements within the allocated budget.
EAM sources said that high on the list of excessive travel were the Sri Lankan diplomats in the European sector.
The annual budgetary travel expenses for Sri Lankan diplomats for the current year is Rs. 250 million, up by Rs. 25 million from last year. At present there are some 300 serving overseas diplomats in 63 missions.
Meanwhile, Asela Weerakoon who was appointed as Sri Lanka’s Head of Mission in Ottawa will take up the posting at the start of next month after an unexplained delay of several months. Mr. Amunugama said Mr. Weerakoon’s appointment had to be approved by the High Post Committee in Parliament before he could take up official duties.
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