Sri Lanka, Sept. 8 -- A controversy has arisen after a large number of Tangalle Urban Council staff members were granted leave on a weekday to attend an excursion, raising questions about the approval process at a state institution.

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Professor A.E.N.E. Abhayaratne, said that as far as he was aware, the leave approval authority of the Urban Council was its Secretary, P.W.K. Rupasena, who died in the recent Ella-Wellawaya bus accident.

The excursion had reportedly been organised to mark the transfer of a group of Urban Council employees.

However, the Minister noted that allowing so many staff members to take leave simultaneously created a problematic situation, ...