Anura slams Govt. plan to give vehicles for MPs

Plans to provide leasing facilities to obtain 58 new vehicles for parliamentarians engaged in monitoring activities came under fire yesterday, with opposition lawmaker Anura Dissanayake demanding an explanation on how State officials tasked with the execution of the project would not be accused of corruption in the future.

Highlighting the grave condition of State coffers and the prevailing economic turmoil in the country, MP Dissanayake asked the Government to disclose the procurement procedure. “It is revealed that a procurement advertisement was published even before the Cabinet approval was obtained. Even though both the technical committee and the procurement committee have rejected the tender submissions, the plan to lease vehicles is progressing,” he said, referring to the Cabinet paper presented on the matter.

“What assurance do you provide the State officers who are involved in this process, that they will not get penalised for engaging in what is corrupted at the outset?” Dissanayake demanded to know. 

“The plan will cost the government Rs. 250 per km per vehicle, increasing the total estimated pay-out to Rs.700, 000 with the inclusion of VAT and NBT. The lease will be for 60 months. By the end of the lease period, the Government has paid well over the market value of these vehicles. The estimate for 58 vehicles remains at Rs. 2,436 m. Even after paying so much, the Government will not have ownership of these vehicles when the lease period is completed. We do have a fair question as to the transparency of this program to lease vehicles for monitoring MPs,” said MP Dissanayake, who referred to recent media reports.

According to MP Dissanayake, each monitoring MP receives a monthly transport allowance of Rs.200,000. “Government is trying to provide this facility to Members of Parliament who already enjoy the facility of importing duty-free vehicles for their official engagements,” said MP Dissanayake, who also questioned the basis of obtaining the lease facility for 60 months, whereas a term of Government is limited to 45 months.

Dissanayake demanded the Government to disclose if there are any MPs eligible to have duty-free vehicle import permission among the 58 to receive these leased vehicles. 

“Have you started the procurement process? If so, when was it published in the national newspapers and in which editions? Do you plan to obtain leases for 60 months by exceeding the tenure of the MPs? Who are the MPs that requested these leased vehicles while receiving the Rs.200,000 vehicle allowance? Is it fair to honour a monthly pay-out of Rs. 700,000 which would provide Rs.250 per km?,” he asked. (AH)