EAM Spent Billions On Foreign Jaunts

Sep 06, 2015

The Ministry of External Affairs (EAM) had incurred expenses to the tune of over Rs. 9 billion in 2014, documents seen by The Sunday Leader revealed.

Some ministries of the former regime had been accused of being involved in widespread fraud and corruption. The Ministry of External Affairs, which was in 2014 known as EAM, is alleged to have been among the most corrupt, when taken into account the extravagant travelling patterns and lavish spending of its previous administration.

Startling revelations have surfaced as to how the former administrators of the Ministry, engaged in lavish spending of public funds, not only during overseas tours, but in every aspect as well.

Cumulative costs incurred by the Ministry last year stood at a staggering Rs. 9,740,048,370 (nine billion seven hundred forty million forty-eight thousand three hundred seventy).

In 2013, the expenditure of the Ministry has been Rs. 9,238,081,679 (nine billion two hundred thirty-eight million eighty-one thousand six hundred seventy-nine) while in 2012, the expenditure had been Rs. 7,854,745,039 (seven billion eight hundred fifty-four million seven hundred forty-five thousand thirty-nine); in 2011, the total expenditure had been Rs. 6,842,509, 786 (six billion eight hundred forty-two million five hundred nine thousand seven hundred eighty-six); and in 2010, it was Rs. 6,165,555,654 (six billion one hundred sixty-five million five hundred fifty-five thousand six hundred fifty-four).

In comparison, from January to May 31 this year, expenses at the Ministry have been recorded at Rs. 3,292,975, 590 (three billion two hundred ninety-two million nine hundred seventy-five thousand five hundred ninety 3.96 billion).

From 2010 to 2014, the Ministry is said to have spent over Rs. 2,057,760,000 (more than Rs. two billion fifty-seven million seven hundred sixty thousand) on overseas travel.

In 2010 alone, the Ministry had spent a colossal sum of Rs. 309,126,070 (three hundred nine million one hundred twenty-six thousand seventy) on foreign travel while Rs. 14,820,307 (fourteen million eight hundred twenty thousand three hundred seven) had been spent on domestic travelling.

However, according to the documents obtained by The Sunday Leader expenses incurred for foreign travel by the Ministry this year (2015) was only Rs. 199,141,952 (one hundred ninety-nine million one hundred forty-one thousand nine hundred fifty-two) in the first six months, down by Rs. 365,573,661 (three hundred sixty-five million five hundred seventy-three thousand six hundred sixty-one) when compared to the same period of last year.

The Ministry has also managed to reduce transport costs this year to Rs. 66,912,237 (sixty-six million nine hundred twelve thousand two hundred thirty-seven) from Rs. 147,850,075 (one hundred forty-seven million eight hundred fifty thousand seventy-five) in 2014.

Vehicle maintenance costs have also seen a drastic reduction this year in comparison to the previous years.

Courtesy - http://www.thesundayleader.lk