Car imports scam as tractors and temple use exposed
Sri Lanka’s Motor Traffic Department (DMT) is once again in the limelight for massive fraudulent activities. The latest scandal reveals how corrupt government officials exploited regulatory loopholes to facilitate illegal importation of luxury vehicles under a false pretext. The exposes depict systemised corruption in the department with grave concerns regarding governance and accountability in motor vehicle registration.
Mass operation to introduce luxury BMW and Benz vehicles in the guise of tractors has been revealed in a recent sitting of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA). The racket, aided by forged papers, indicates how DMT officers have sunk to low levels of corruption.
In addition, on March 22, at a COPA meeting, it was revealed that some officials of MTD had violated licencing and registration regulations on 158 vehicles which had been misclassified as imports for places of religious worship. Abuse of such provisions in regulations has also pointed towards the open disdain for legal procedure within the department.
Responding to a query made by COPA Chairman, MP Aravinda Senarath, Commissioner-General of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anuruddha Weerasingha stated that an investigation launched within the department led to the suspension of one such officer. For lack of evidence, he was reinstated, which puts into question the effectiveness of the accountability mechanism.
The Department of Auditor General and the Centre for Public Affairs, together, uncovered the scheme of fraud whereby evading tax payment and disobeying laws by reporting the luxury vehicles as tractors. DMT officials did not cooperate fully during questioning, though they had been summoned.
Even though Mr. Weerasinghe claimed the scam was done before his tenure, his predecessor had taken legal action against the fraud. Even before he was ousted from office, the then Commissioner-General had gone to the extent of filing a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department in writing. However, no serious follow-up has been witnessed by the current administration, which has raised further allegations of a cover-up.
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