President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s dramatic return to Sri Lanka on a private Embraer Legacy 600 jet on May 6 ignited heated debate in Parliament today, with opposition MPs demanding to know who funded the luxury flight.
Raising the issue, SJB MP Harshana Rajakaruna questioned Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, asking whether the Vietnamese government covered the cost.
In a surprise revelation, Minister Herath clarified that the flight was not paid for by the Vietnamese government—but instead by a Vietnamese Buddhist Association affiliated with the United Nations.
According to Herath, President Dissanayake initially declined an invitation to attend the UN Vesak Day celebrations as chief guest due to his obligation to return home to vote in the local elections. However, after the Buddhist Association offered flight facilities, he agreed to participate in the event.
Minister Herath emphasized that no Sri Lankan public funds were used for the trip and assured Parliament that the visit was coordinated with the government and organized through the UN-affiliated Vietnamese Buddhist Committee.
The revelation ends speculation about state spending but raises new questions about international religious groups footing the bill for head-of-state travel.
