Vehicle bonanza for select MPs

The Unity Government yesterday moved a paper for supplementary allocation for Rs. 494 million, seeking parliamentary approval to purchase vehicles for some ministers and Rs. 62.2 million in 25 double cabs for the Auditor General’s Department.

Minister of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media and Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka moved the Supplementary Allocations from the Supplementary Support Services and Contingent Liabilities Project which appears under Expenditure Head No. 240 of the Department of National Budget-2016 as at 31 December 2016 and 2017 as of 31 January 2017 under Section 6 (1) of the Appropriation Act No. 16 of 2015 and Act No. 24 of 2016 respectively.

According to the supplementary allocation request, Rs. 42.6 million will be used to purchase a vehicle for the Minister of Special Assignments, Rs. 42 million to purchase a vehicle for Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, Rs. 86 million to purchase two vehicles for Minister of Irrigation and Water Resource Management, Rs. 41 million to purchase a vehicle for the Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Rs. 43 million to purchase a vehicle each for the ministers of Tourism and Christian Affairs, Higher Education and Highways and Sustainable Development and Wildlife.

Further approval was sought for Rs. 42.5 million to purchase a vehicle for the State Minister of Women and Child Affairs, Rs. 43 million to purchase a vehicle for the State Minister of Science, Technology and Research, Rs. 31.3 million to purchase a vehicle for the State Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure and Rs. 37.4 million to purchase a vehicle for the Leader of the Opposition. (AH)