A scheduled trip to China by a second batch of Western Provincial Councillors was put on hold last night, pending approval from the province’s Governor, a senior official said yesterday.
A second batch of some 30 WPC members were scheduled to leave for Beijing on September 13 but the trip had been put on hold, WPC Secretary Lalith Kanannagara said.
However, other sources said the China trip had run into a storm following adverse media reports.
The Sunday Times’ lead story last week quoted opposition JVP members as saying the trip was largely a joy-ride at the cost Rs. 30 million in public funds.
The story also said all but three of the 104 members of the WPC were scheduled to undertake the China trip, with WPC Chief Secretary Victor Samaraweera claiming it was part of training. The three JVP members, who did not want to join the trip because they felt it was a waste of public funds, pointed out that the political systems in China and Sri Lanka were different and therefore, the trip was of very little use to them.
The Sunday Times learns that the team that left for China only met one low-key official from the Chiangi County.
During the visit the delegation was taken to an agro plant, the Great Wall, the local museum and thereafter for a lot of shopping, a councillor who joined the trip said.
“Hedata Wedata Api Soorayo, Apith Colombo Kollo" was the most popular song we sang on our return trip,” he said.
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