Dilemma over allocating CHOGM Benz cars
View(s):The government is in a dilemma in allocating 54 luxury Benz S400 vehicles that were imported to the country for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo recently, informed sources said.
All these Benz cars are now parked at the DIMO vehicle yard at Weweldeniya and the government can take it away at any time, Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman and the Managing Director of Diesel and Motor Engineering Company Plc (DIMO) told the Business Times.He revealed that the company received the payment for vehicles through the Bank of Ceylon and the transaction has been completed.
He noted that there was no leasing arrangement in importing these vehicles for CHOGM.
However the government is considering several options before taking a final decision on the distribution of 54 Benz Cars, authoritative sources said.
One such option was to direct the company to re-sell some of the vehicles on behalf of the government closing the letters of credit opened through the Bank of Ceylon, these sources said adding that in that case the company will have to refund the money to the Treasury.
The Business Times reliably learnt that some of the 54 Benz cars will be distributed among ministers loyal to the president and close family members.
But the government is yet to decide on this matter as the selection of Benz car recipients would not be an easy task.
Under this set up, the president will take the final decision on the distribution of 54 Benz cars, 41-seater luxury Land Rover Defender jeeps and other vehicles including 60 Nissan Teana cars, 54 Nissan Slyphy cars and 54 Toyota Corolla cars.
After the summit the vehicles had been returned to the companies which imported them and at present they are parked at vehicle yards of these companies.
Meanwhile the government plans to pay Rs. 446 million to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development to cover the expenses incurred on purchasing vehicles for the security related activities at the CHOGM 2013.