A total of 65 members and officials of the Central Provincial Council (CPC) is set to take off to Russia on a ‘study tour’ at a staggering cost of Rs. US $ 51,655.
Chief Minster Sarath Ekanayake
The Central Provincial Council which is engulfed in a serious financial crisis has sent a letter to the Bank of Ceylon Super Grade Branch in Kandy, requesting the bank to release a sum of US $ 51,655 from the council’s current account number 33789 to facilitate the foreign tour, the state owned Daily News said.
The letter has been signed by the Council’s financial assistant S.K. Welagedara and council secretary Bandara Tennakoon. A total of 28 Council Members, including the Council Secretary and a large number of officials of the Council are taking part in the ‘study tour’. They will be leaving the country in two batches, with the first batch scheduled to leave tomorrow, September 27.
The council is spending nearly Rs. 180,000 on the air ticket of each member, and the tour is allegedly organised by a relative of a big wig in the Central Provincial Council. When the Colombo Telegraph checked the cost of an air ticket from Colombo to Moscow (Return) on Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and also Emirates, the ticket cost was between Rs. 85,231 to Rs. 118,528.
“Although US $ 3,000 has been set apart as expenditure allowance for each member, $ 1,325 out of this will go for food and lodging. Each member will thus receive $ 1,675 as personal expenses but several members have expressed displeasure over this meagre allowance,” the article said.
UPFA council member Gunatilleke Rajapaksa told a recent council meeting that out of 2,996 development projects launched by the CPC, 258 have stalled as the council does not have the necessary funds to complete the projects.
Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake is reported to have said US $ 51,655 had been allocated in the last budget for the study tour and therefore it could not be utilised for any other purpose.
thrishu / September 26, 2016
Squandering money behind petty rules! If the money could not be spent on other projects in the current year, then it should be clawed back at the end of the year and reallocated to needy development projects that benefit people. This is just a waste of money by irresponsible council members for their personal pleasure. Shame on you lot, led by an ignorant leader!
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Ajith / September 26, 2016
What a wonderful way to spend money. Study tour? How to smuggle heroin?
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Nastasia / September 26, 2016
If their are Sinhalese, robbing and dishonesty is just simply part of their style and culture of living.
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Taraki / September 29, 2016
What if they are Tamils?
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Native Vedda / September 29, 2016
Nastasia
“If their are Sinhalese, robbing and dishonesty is just simply part of their style and culture of living.”
Are you saying all Sinhalese are crooks?
I beg to differ. Most are stupid. They vote for their politicians and get robbed/mugged by the same politicians.
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thondamannay / September 26, 2016
Enjoy politics under Yahapalanaya…..
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Ben Hurling / September 26, 2016
Can assure you this CM’s whole entoruage is totally corrupt.
Who allows such a large group to travel like this? For what puropose? On Business Class? Exactly on what kind of “Business”?
How are the public hospitals in the Central Province doing? Do they have the most rudimentray of facilities & supplies?
How about all the rural schools in the province? Do they have desks, chairs or basic sanitary facilities? Do kids come to school on empty stomahcs, with no school books, uniforms or shoes? The answer would be YES!
And we allow these useless, corrupt monkeys to fly BUSINESS CLASS to Moscow?
Mr. Presidnet, please ground all of them!
Cheers!
PS:
There is no shortage of strip bars in Moscow. At tax-payers’ expense? That too?
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Diogenes / September 26, 2016
A Study Tour?To study what and for whose benefit? These bloody parasites are sucking the blood of the nation!The President should see that the Chief minister bugger is sacked and suitable action taken against these enemies of the society immeditelt.
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Kathawa Dolawen / September 26, 2016
Long Live Sirisena’s ‘Yahapalana’ Government. In Sinhala there is a saying ‘Kathawa Dolawen Gamana Pain’ but in this case we have to say ‘Kathawa Pain Gamana Dolawen’.
I am sure on their way back they will come through Bangkok!!! That could be the reason why ticket is expensive and complain on allowance. I have experience with those who go on study tours. They are utter wastage of tax payers money. With few exceptions, majority are not keen on learning anything and hardly bring new ideas back to the country.
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K.Pillai / September 26, 2016
TNA was elected to lead the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) in September 2013. NPC has never had any financial scandals
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jim softy / September 26, 2016
This is how too many politicians, too many levels of govts have become a nuisance to Sri lanka. This Ekanayake is a son of a former politician. Why do they need study tour. Were Sri lankans savages who did not know anything about governing.
It is complete waste of meny.
Rosi Senayake from the Western Provincial council also did the same thing be travelling the whole gang in China.
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Dankottuwa Manike / September 26, 2016
thrishu
They should have included NCP’s Wiggie Bhappa and the cost would have just hit $60,000.
He is a Veggie and not a non alcoholic. So his cost would have been the lowest and just nudging to $60,000.
In their arrangements they should have facilitated a honorary doctorate title for him in the Lumumba Uni which should proceed with a mega Ellu Tamil natuma in Jaffna.
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punchinilame / September 26, 2016
Make hay while the sun shines – the attitude of all politicians is very visible.
The study tour to the West might include Translators I suppose. Does any Minister in the Centre have any control on such wasteful expenditure – budgeted
or not?
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Kumar R. / September 26, 2016
65 members travel, costing a sum of US$ 51,655? That is less than $1,000 per person. How is that a “staggering” cost? Are you reporting the numbers right?
At $3,000 per person (food and other expenses). what is the cost for 65 participants? Surely you can calculate that! Add the flight expenses. How do you get a Total sum (for all 65) of $51,655? Perhaps you meant $516,550 – Now, that would be a “staggering” cost for normal human beings, but possibly still peanuts for the Rajapakse clan.
Clouds the credibility, if not the capability of the reporter!
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BBS Rep / September 27, 2016
Kumar R,
I am staggered too at the staggering amount. Mathematics of the journalist needs a bit more honing. Can the journalist please recalculate and let us know the real amount.
I am sure the real amount will be staggering just as the number going on this so called study tour – 65 altogether. The Central Province will have the best brain bank in the Island.
Thanks CT for pre-emptively exposing these culprits.
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Dankottuwa Manike / September 27, 2016
Kumar R.
IDIOT!
Staggering in Toto.
You are a big shit of boru hypes.
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Kumar R. / September 27, 2016
Aiyo Dankotuwa – imbibed a little too much of Dankotuwa special, did you?!
If not, you must be an accountant of Rajapakse-persuasion to take offence at the correction – just the same way budgets were compiled under Basil, Gota and MR.
You single handedly give enormous credibility to the unfortunate perception of kavun kanno.
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Dankottuwa Manike / September 27, 2016
Kumar R.
Where were you all these while. Fishing in the troubled waters of Chemmani lagoon and disposing the dust in Keerimalai?
If you need an accountant of Rajapakse-persuasion to compile your own budgets and financial misdemeanors, I can introduce a forensic accountant from Dankotuwa.
If you want a legal expert with Mahinda’s recommendation Sarungole Prof GLP is there for you. GLP is not tongue yearning Gilebie. He is a Good Laboratory Tested expert who can defend you even in the sky.
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Kumar R. / September 27, 2016
DM,
About that kavun kannos – yep, You D’ (Wo)Man!! You prove that beyond any doubt.
How about another swig of DK Special that would put you to a well deserved slumber? — hopefully permanently!
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Dankottuwa Manike / September 28, 2016
Kumar R.
Did you wear saree or London pyjama when you went on fishing in the troubled waters of Chemmani lagoon and then to dispose the dust in Keerimalai?
My deepest sympathies to you and to all connected.
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K.PIllai / September 27, 2016
Sharp observation Kumar R.
“The Island” of 26 September says that the total cost to be about SLR600 million.
However, Central Province Governor Ms. Niluka Ekanayake said, “I am recording my consent against my conscience. This is not a time for the country to spend such a large amount of money on a tour. I give my approval because I am unable to stand against it since the approval for the tour has been taken some time ago”
Compare this with the way the Governor of NP acts on NPC decisions.
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Rajash / September 27, 2016
may be per person?
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Kugan / September 27, 2016
May be it’s not Aussie,ortherwise whole lot would have deported.
Coming from central province to learn/study what?
Confuse the lmmi officers.
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Nihal Gunatilake / September 27, 2016
Hello !! Bandaiyaas – When you enter a Room please check whether CCTV Cameras are installed. Some of the Cameras you can see – they are so small!! Don’t spoil the good name of the Bandaas of the Upcountry. But at the same time don’ miss the chance – KETALEN MALLAWAGE more than beautiful and good complexion. All the best bye- Nihal Gunatilake
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jim softy / September 27, 2016
Read the following.
I think the cheif minister is the relative of governor.
It looks like a family affair. they plunder the country and enjoy the life.
The second batch of Provincial Councilors and officials were scheduled to leave the country on October 5.
Twenty eight members of the Central Provincial Council and officials left for Russia on a familiarisation tour this morning and the second batch was scheduled to leave the country on October 5.
President Maithripala Sirisena inquired from Central Province Governor Niluka Ekanayake as to why she allowed them to participate in this tour spending millions of rupees in public money.
The President has inquired from the Central Province Governor as to why she failed to inform him about this tour, before permission was granted to organise the tour.
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Ajith / September 27, 2016
The truth of the matter is that the devolution of power to the provinces are unnecessary. The devolution of power is needed only for North East SriLanka where the people speak different language, different culture,and different needs. It won’t work in other places because the people did not ask for that because there was no need for them. It is sort of forceful feeding a child with roughages. The country spend billions worth of resources in order to reject the rightful need of the devolution of the North East People. In fact, the people of the South are the great loosers.
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Rajash / September 27, 2016
I hope they had a good study tour.
I wanted to know
(a) whether they pass statues in Russia?
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shankar / September 28, 2016
nothing to worry because of the VAT.
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shankar / September 28, 2016
when you look at the chief minister’s face you wonder how come only 65 have left to russia.It is the modayas who are to blame for electing a face like theirs.
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