THE Sri Lankan government spent £214,000 on entertaining Ian Paisley and his family, it has been claimed.

And now a leading politician in Colombo is calling for a top-level probe into his nation’s dealings with the DUP man.

3 DUP's Ian Paisley in Ballymena Credit: Pacemaker Press

The claim comes after Paisley’s dramatic suspension this week from both the House of Commons and his own party.

He had failed to declare two junkets to Sri Lanka with parliamentary authorities and later went on to lobby on behalf of the Asian island nation.

It had been reported that the trips were worth £50,000 — less than a quarter of the sum suggested by the Sri Lankan MP.

JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake told his parliament the Paisley visits in 2013 were sanctioned by the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who served until 2015.

3 Ian Paisley Jr celebrates with his son Matthew and wife Fiona after winning his seat for North Antrim in the UK Parlimentary Elections Credit: Pacemaker Press

Speaking after Tuesday’s unprecedented 30-day suspension of the North Antrim MP, Mr Rathnayake said they took place at a time when the powers-that-be in Colombo felt isolated worldwide.

He claimed Paisley was on trips worth “Rs. 45 million (£214,000) in 2013” - paid for by by “the Rajapaksa government”.

Rathnayake added: “It is now our duty to find out who was responsible for this on our end.”

Five years ago, in the space of four months, the MP, his wife and children flew business class to Sri Lanka twice.

3 Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley Jr Credit: PA:Press Association

They stayed at five-star hotels, were driven around in a Merc, given helicopter trips and met senior officials.

A year later, Paisley wrote to the then prime minister David Cameron defending the Asian state’s human rights record.

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Mr Ratnayake said he wants to know who gave the all-clear for the junkets — while in the same debate, UNP MP Mujibur Rahman pledged to lodge a complaint with the Sri Lankan Bribery Commission.

Meanwhile, Paisley’s suspension has caused a headache for Prime Minister Theresa May, who is seeking to pass Brexit legislation with DUP support.

North Antrim voters are to be given the chance to force a by-election by signing a petition. If ten per cent — which is about 7,500 — sign up then Paisley will lose his seat and a by-election will be held.