PROV. COUNCILLORS WASTING MILLIONS ON O’SEAS TRIPS

The members had travelled overseas on several occasions this year and had spent millions on trips to Vietnam, Thailand and China. The JVP had been invited but declined

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and United National Party (UNP) members of provincial councils and local bodies have spent millions of rupees in public funds to go on a spate of foreign jaunts, the Janatha Vimukth Peremuna (JVP) charged yesterday.

JVP member Nalin Hewage told Daily Mirror the UPFA and UNP members in the Southern Province had spent some Rs.85 million on a trip to North Korea. He said the JVP was invited for this trip but had declined.

Meanwhile UNP and UPFA members of local coun- cils in the Uva Province have planned a trip to China.

JVP Uva Provincial Councillor Sugath Balagalla told Daily Mirror these members had travelled overseas on several occasions this year and had spent millions on trips to Vietnam, Thailand and China. Mr. Balagalla said the Uva PC had allocated Rs.40 million for the ‘Deshabimani’ land distribution ceremony which is to be held soon in Monaragala. He said an initial allocation of Rs.20 million was followed by another Rs.20 million through a supplementa- ry estimate on November 8.

Mr. Balagalla said the Central government had also allocated funds for this ceremony.

He said it was only the JVP which opposed this move while UNP kept silent.

A top government minister who did not want to be named confirmed that such foreign trips had been undertaken by the local councillors. But he said he was not aware about the Monaragala ceremony.