Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry has refuted reports claiming he has spent nearly Rs. 50 million for seven overseas visits.
Taking to Twitter, Minister Sabry slammed the reports, stating that they are “absolutely misleading and false information.”
The Minister clarified that the specified amount was the total cost of 5 national delegations.
He outlined that the delegations were to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
Minister Ali Sabry also said that two bilateral visits to the US and Saudi Arabia were also among the overseas trips included in the said cost.
“I led the delegation. Apart from me, 22 other officials have taken part in these deliberations,” he added.
The Foreign Minister provided the clarification after a Sri Lankan journalist reported that it has been revealed that Minister Ali Sabry has spent more than 5 crore rupees on official trips abroad.
Taking to Twitter, the journalist stated that these facts have been revealed through an application submitted by a fellow Sri Lankan journalist under the Right To Information (RTI) Act.
The journalist further claimed that it is stated that Minister Ali Sabry has spent the said amount only for 7 overseas trips. (NewsWire)