Govt. claims 300 vehicles of ex-ministers still unreturned

Friday, 6 March 2015 00:47 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government yesterday highlighted that ministers and officials of the previous regime were yet to return 300 vehicles and that the law would be strictly implemented against those who were in possession of these unreturned vehicles. Cabinet Spokesman and Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, during yesterday’s Cabinet briefing, said that according to reports at least 300 vehicles belonging to former ministers and public officials were still unaccounted for after the change of regime. “Allocations for a former minister are two vehicles while a deputy minister is entitled to one official vehicle. But we have found out that some of them are using around 20 vehicles. Therefore we will not hesitate to implement the law against those in possession of such vehicles. President Maithripala Sirisena has also asked Minister Karu Jayasuriya to submit a comprehensive report on this matter,” he said He added that the proposed Rs. 20,000 allowance for expectant mothers in the new Government’s Interim Budget would be paid from 21 March. “All pregnant mothers who have registered with the Government’s maternal clinics and who regularly attend clinics will get this proposed concession on a doctor’s recommendation. The Government has also taken steps to introduce measures to control the increase of vegetable prices and to maintain a fixed vegetable price throughout the year by providing vegetable seeds and saplings for small-scale cultivation lands under a 50% concessionary scheme,” Senaratne added.

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