The ruling party seems keen to keep its supporters among the Sri Lankan expatriate community happy. Toward this end, several senior NPP members including ministers have been travelling overseas, mainly to countries in Europe to meet with groups supporting them. While some of these meetings are held on the sidelines of official tours, some are arranged exclusively for propaganda work.
The latest visit was undertaken to Finland by Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake. He has been featured in a ‘Sri Lanka community meetups’ group with meetings in four parts of the country. In March this year, Mr. Rathnayake was in Rome to carry an invitation from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to Pope Leo XIV to visit Sri Lanka. Much of the time in Italy was spent engaging with members of the Sri Lanka community or party supporters. One wonders if this is part of electioneering as well, with plans to offer overseas Sri Lankans the vote next time round.
- https://www.sundaytimes.lk/261018/c...at-fans-colours-of-things-to-come-661387.html
