Some post-Budget fliers still to return

Several top ministers and deputies left the country soon after the vote on the Budget on December 14 and while some have returned others are still away, some on official visits and some on private visits abroad. Among those who left the country soon after the Budget are Ministers Nimal Siripala De Silva, Jeevan Kumaratunga, Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rohitha Bogollagama, Gamini Lokuge, A.H.M.Fowzie, Maithripala Sirisena, Milinda Moragoda, Cegu Izzadeen, Sumedha Jayasena, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and Deputy Minister Hussein Bahila.

Minister Gamini Lokuge has gone to London and will be away for two months on a personal visit while Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga too has gone overseas on a private visit. Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva who went to Nepal to attend an official meeting has decided to stay on in Kathmandu on an invitation extended to him by his friends there to spend Christmas with them.

Minister Fowzie is away in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj season while Minister Bandula Gunawardena was away in Singapore on official work and was expected back by the end of the week. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who was in China as well as Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who was in London were also expected back by today.

Minister Milinda Moragoda who returned to the country after an official visit to India on Friday is scheduled to go overseas on a private visit today while Minister Cegu Izzadeen who was away in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj will return to the country on Wednesday and take off the same day for China on an official visit. Minister Maithripala Sirisena who was on an overseas visit after the Budget was scheduled to return home yesterday.