Minister Vijitha Herath has rejected attempts to compare President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s use of official vehicles to attend a funeral with former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s use of a special flight for a private overseas visit.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Government Information Department, Minister Herath responded to questions raised by journalists regarding the alleged double standards. He clarified that while former President Wickremesinghe has been sued for misusing state property to attend a private family event abroad, President Anura’s travel within Sri Lanka including visits to his mother or funerals cannot be equated to such misuse.
The minister further explained that public servants themselves have been granted procedures through government circulars that permit limited personal use of official vehicles. “There is a clear framework in place,” he said, adding that domestic travel by a serving Head of State is within the accepted norms of governance and security.
Minister Herath stressed that legal proceedings against Wickremesinghe are not politically motivated but stem from a formal complaint regarding the misuse of public property. “The government has not intervened in the process,” he noted, underscoring that the matter is now entirely before the courts.
