CABINET SETS OUT NEW GUIDELINES FOR FOREIGN TRIPS OF MPS, PCS

In a bid to put a stop to joy rides abroad by politicians, with Provincial Councillors and Pradeshiya Sabha members being singled out as the main culprits, the Cabinet has decided to introduce a set of guidelines and modalities on undertaking tours abroad, utilising state funds.

A memo presented in this regard to the Cabinet by President Maithripala Sirisena was approved on Tuesday (26).

Accordingly, all public officers deployed on duty in the centre and periphery should closely focus attention on the need and for training

All public officers deployed on duty in the centre and periphery should closely focus attention on the need and for training or observation tours abroad, whenever project proposals were formulated

or observation tours abroad, whenever project proposals were formulated. They should also refrain from taking more than five participants on these tours at a time. In the event that they feel that such a tour was indeed necessary, such study tours should be arranged on a staggered basis.

Even if the expenses involved were to be met by foreign sources, such expenses (except grants) would eventually need to be reimbursed using public funds. This fact should be taken into account when foreign trips are planned. It has to be understood that even grants provided by donor agencies are solely meant to uplift the living standards of the people in that particular province. Hence, a careful study should be made in advance of the need for such trips abroad when formulating project proposals to be submitted to foreign agencies in the future, the memo by President Sirisena concluded.