The Singapore conference and other matters

Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake’s expenses on a business class ticket and a stay at a star class hotel to attend the World Mayors Conference early this month were questioned at the Council meeting on Thursday.

JVP member Hemantha Weerakoon queried the expenses stating that the invitation letter had not been submitted to the council and usually such expenses are met by the host or the invitee

Other Opposition members joined in the protest and questioned the criteria as to how another councillor who accompanied her was also selected for the visit.

According to documents submitted to the council, the invitation had been forwarded to the council by the Foreign Ministry.

Ms Senanayake’s expenses consisted of Rs 115,000 for a business class ticket to Singapore and Rs 320,000 for the stay at Marina Bay Sands hotel there. The accompanying councillor’s expenses were Rs 52,000 for an economy class ticket and Rs 320,000 for the stay at the same hotel.

The expenses had been eventually approved despite the protests from the opposition members.

Meanwhile, all hell broke loose at Thursday’s sittings when the issue of the Leader of the Opposition cropped up again. An earlier request by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna to appoint Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam was turned down by the Mayor saying there was no such post. Subsequently, the SLFP’s Azath Salley produced a list of 27 MMCs and said he qualified for the post, but the Mayor turned it down saying 10 MMCs who supported that were members of Mano Ganeshan’s party which was part of the Government.

Thereafter, another list of 27 MMCs was put forward supporting SLFPer M.H. Manzil and both, Mr. Salley and the SLPP objected. Sittings had to be suspended following the commotion over the issue.

Now, Mayor Senanayake has given the SLPP time till Tuesday, July 31st, to produce the numbers. The SLPP has decided that councillor Ajantha Liyanage will be nominated for the post the Leader of the Opposition and Dr. Kariyawasam will be the leader of the party in the council, if they can produce the numbers.