President Sirisena’s entourage to the UNGA numbered 30 while Rajapaksa had a 72-member delegation accompanying him last year.

Rajapaksa’s personal staff for the tour included a chief physician, assisting physicians, chief cook, assistant cooks, the chief makeup artiste and an assistant makeup artiste.

Payments made to them for the tour are – 20,000 dollars for the chief physician, 50,000 dollars for assisting physicians, 20,000 dollars for the chief cook, 30,000 dollars for the assistant cooks, and 30,000 dollars for the chief makeup artiste and the assistant makeup artiste.

Given below is the letter issued by the then MP Sajin Vaas Gunawardena to make the payments: