Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has been criticized by social media users over his recent visit to the Maldives.
The Minister was criticized for spending state money to travel to the Maldives and also for enjoying several water sports, including flyboarding and jet skiing when Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis.
However, speaking to NewsWire, Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa denied both allegations.
Minister Rajapaksa said he travelled to the Maldives to attend the Maldives Sports Awards 2022, in which he was conferred with the Special Recognition award.
The Minister said the visit was at no cost to the Sri Lanka Government, adding that the entire trip was paid for by the Maldives Government.
The Minister also said that photographs of him playing water sports in the Maldives are from one of his previous visits to the island.
He said that although it was uploaded to social media this week, it was from one of his previous visits.
Minister Rajapaksa said the Maldives plays a major part in sports tourism is something the Sports Ministry is looking at seriously.
He said that already some similar Water Sports games have been launched at the Colombo Port City.
“As Sports minister when I visit countries it’s normal for them to invite me to do sports in those countries, especially these kinds of Sports tourism activities,” Minister Rajapaksa added. (NewsWire)