Auditor General Gamini Wijesinghe says that Sri Lanka had spent Rs. 8.3 billion last year to operate its diplomatic missions overseas.
He is being quoted as saying in the media that an audit will be held into this expenditure since it needs to be determined if this spending has brought adequate returns for the country.
Wijesinghe has made these observations at a function of the committee on public accounts held at Waters’ Edge in Battaramulla.
The Auditor General has also expressed concerns over the inability to introduce the Audit Bill even three years after its formulation as per the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
As a result, Rs. 2.2 million has to be spent per month on the Audit Commission, he has said.
Meanwhile, it is reported that Rs. 9 billion had been spent for the maintenance of officials of 68 diplomatic missions overseas during Dr. Harsha de Silva’s tenure as Deputy Foreign Minister.
He has said the country should get a better return for this spending and that the details of the diplomatic officials would be networked.
Courtesy: Sri Lanka edition
