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Officials’ luxury vehicles drama being replayed
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
The handing over of vehicles used by ministers, secretaries and other officials takes center stage during every toppling of a government.
This has happened over and over whenever a new government is formed.
Once again, following the victory of the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake the same act is being played.
It happened in 1994 when former President Chandrika Kumaratunga took over, and again in 2015 when former president Maithripala Sirisena took over and in 2019 when former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa assumed office.
People arrive at the site of the parked vehicles. Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera
Among the accusations are that people deemed unworthy were holding high positions and made up positions, and had been given luxury vehicles. Some were V8s, Land Cruisers, jeeps, and cars.
The Sunday Times has reported similar incidents after the 1994, 2015, elections.
A Sunday Times report of January, 18, 2015, headlined, “Hunt on for ex-President’s missing vehicles”, revealed a similar event.
It said the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is investigating the disappearance of 700 vehicles allocated to the Presidential Secretariat.
The article said a probe has been launched on the directive of Inspector General at the time, N.K. Illangakoon following a complaint by an officer in charge of the transport section of the Presidential Secretariat.
The President’s Private Secretary, Ananda Wijepala said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed officials to allocate the luxury vehicles for essential services such as the health sector, and public security. He said there is a shortage of ambulances at hospitals and the police.
Mr. Wijepala added that a comprehensive review will be done about misuse of vehicles. President Dissanayake has instructed that these vehicles be reassigned to essential services.
He disclosed that 59 vehicles obtained from various institutions had been distributed through the Presidential Secretariat to political allies, and despite the vehicle import ban, 16 vehicles had been imported for the Presidential Secretariat.
Mr. Wijepala mentioned that among the 833 vehicles owned by the Presidential Secretariat, 29 are missing. The CID will be asked to investigate.
Investigations would be held about possible misuse, a senior official said.
The Sunday Times learned that some of the vehicles have been given to members of the United National Party who backed Mr Wickremesinghe. Some of them are Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Prof Ashu Marasinghe, Rosy Senanayake, Vadivel Suresh, Ranjith Keerthi Tennakoon and Saman Rathnapriya.
Prof Ashu Marasinghe, told the Sunday Times, he was given a vehicle as he was parliamentary affairs adviser to former president Ranil Wickremesinghe.
“I was given a vehicle, I used it carefully and handed it over after elections. Handing over vehicles after the change of the government or president is a normal practice, but now the government has made this a media circus and misleading people,” he said.
Former state minister Vadivel Suresh told the Sunday Times that he was an adviser to the president for a short period before being named as a minister. He said he was unhappy about the vehicle provided to him at that time and handed it over when he was appointed as minister.
Former PUCSL chairman Janaka Ratnayake told the Sunday Times that the misuse of vehicle allegation was also hurled at him.
He added that in every party, the president of any country would appoint loyalists who supported them to positions and provide them with facilities, but those appointees should serve the people.
“Appointing loyalists is the culture, and handing over vehicles also occurs when the government changes.’’
Auctioning some vehicles that use up lots of fuel and buying electric or fuel efficient vehicles is much more practical than using them for essential services.
Former presidential secretary Saman Ekanayake declined to comment.
Sunday Times report of January, 18, 2015, headlined, “Hunt on for ex-President’s missing vehicles
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