Justice Rohini Marasinghe, considered to be a leading human rights defender and head of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka it appears has requested the government to foot the bill so she may obtain a business class ticket to attend the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) - OHCHR.

In a letter to a government official, Marasinghe says she has been invited to speak at the event and it would be important for Sri Lankan to attend it. However, Marasinghe notes that the travel allowance provided by the organisers is for a 2nd class ticket and she would not be entitled to any other allowance as the HRSCL is a government organisation.

Accordingly, Marasinghe in her letter says she would have to travel 14 hours and 30 minutes. “It will be difficult to travel in 2nd class,” she said adding that she would also require lodging facilities from 26 November - 4 December.

She writes that accommodation would cost Rs. 467, 249 while the Business class ticket would cost Rs. 1,081,000. She requested the total for both costing Rs. 1,548,249 be approved by the Ministry of Finance and put under the budget allocated to the HRCSL.

(Source : Bharatha Tennekoon)