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Power funds going to powerful vehicle
The CEB is to purchase a luxury vehicle costing Rs.12 million for a senior officer based in Colombo from monies funded by the Japanese Government for a transmission line through Vavuniya and Kilinochchi, The Sunday Times learns.
Under the project which would cost US $ 16 million (Rs. 160 million) a substation is to be set up in Kilinochchi on completion of the power line. Although a vehicle is needed for such a project the CEB generally purchases a pickup vehicle costing around Rs. six million.

The Sunday Times learns the four-wheel drive luxury vehicle with a market value of Rs. 12 million is to be used by the Head of the Transmission Division based in Colombo.

Although the vehicle has not been imported as yet, its purchase is included in the tender contract. Officials have justified the purchase of such a vehicle claiming that CEB officers need to travel in a luxury vehicle as they have to travel long distances. The Sunday Times learns this has been the practice at the CEB, where as few years back a senior CEB officer purchased a Montero costing an exorbitant sum from funds allocated for a rural development project.

Tenders for the purchase of the luxury vehicle have closed but the tender has not been awarded yet, The Sunday Times learns.

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