Media reports revealed that former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Maithripala Sirisena have spent a colossal amount of public money to maintain their personal staff.
Relevant information has been obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his second term 2010-2014 has spent 638,107,941.84 lakhs for the maintenance of private staff.
During the relevant period, his personal staff consisted of 2578 people.
It is reported that Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, who emerged as the general candidate against the waste and corruption of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime and won, has spent more money on his personal staff than President Mahinda Rajapaksa spent.
For the period between 2015-2019, Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has spent 850,326,968.14 public money for the maintenance of his personal staff.
1378 people have worked in Mr. Sirisena’s personal staff.