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CV’s vehicle shot down by Cabinet

4 October 2018 05:25 am - 36     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran’s request for approval to import a super luxury vehicle at a cost of US$ 60,000 (Rs. 102,00,000 approximately) had been rejected by the Cabinet on Tuesday (02) Cabinet Spokesman Dr Rajitha Senaratne said yesterday.

He told the media at yesterday’s Cabinet news briefing that the Government could not afford the extra luxury to Wigneswaran while suspending vehicle imports for Ministers, MPs and public servants who were entitled to tax-free vehicle imports.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman, Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka said 228 Parliamentarians and nearly 8,000 Public Servants had already imported vehicles on duty-free permits. Another 5,000 public servants were still to put order to import duty-free vehicles.

“The Government would relax restrictions on vehicle imports after six months and I believe the situation would be improved by December with the drop of fuel prices in the global market and the rupee becoming steady against the dollar,” Minister Senaratne said.

He added that the prices of essential commodities were still lower than the process before 2015 and added the budget 2019 would be a relief budget giving people a lot of benefits.

Minister Senaratne flatly rejected the notion that the Cost of Living and prices of essential commodities were much higher than the prices in 2014 and also that a large majority of people were struggling to make ends meet under the prevailing economic situation in the country.

Responding to a journalist’s suggestion that the Police had failed to contain the underworld and crime wave in the North and as such the Sri Lanka Army had appealed the Government to give armed forces personnel to control crimes in the north, Minister Senaratne said the Army had helped the Police to control public unrest and crimes right throughout since Independence.

“But the Sri Lanka Army under this Government will not kill people when they stage protests like the Rajapaksa Government did at Rathupaswala and Katunayake,” he stressed. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

 

 

 

Pix by Nisal Baduge


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  Comments - 36

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  • Soam Thursday, 04 October 2018 06:39 AM

    Dr RS is right. Sri Lanka is reeling from the debt trap and 80% of the GDP is paid as loan repayment. Simply, "Greek / Spain" tragedy waiting to happen. This clown CV has done nothing except crowing about semi separation and the people of the North Province have had their gutful of this incompetent imbecile.

    Am Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:13 AM

    "228 Parliamentarians" Sombody pls pls explain... Didnt anyone else see this..... ???

    Rasheed Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:06 AM

    Why this rule only for CV, most of the Ministers and CM and their spouse are running in their duty free vehicles.

    shanthapriya Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:51 AM

    Why all these restriction only on this person simply because he did not have money to import early like all other ministers. Give him also a chance as you all had enough and to spare

    Unchikun Thursday, 04 October 2018 06:57 AM

    This is a new syndrome in Sri Lanka, Everyone wants big and expensive cars. What is bad is when tax payers money is used for buying these cars.

    bad Thursday, 04 October 2018 08:29 AM

    will the president and the pm will use the car allowed to CM ?

    Jaffna middle class living in Britain Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:04 AM

    In the 70s the government undermined and weakened the educated traditional Tamil political leaders because they were asking for equal rights for the Tamils. This was exploited by India and they created the LTTE, EPRLF, etc.These terrorists within few years wiped out the Tamil political leaders and hijacked the Tamil nationalism.Now the government is trying to do the same again for the Chief Minister Wigneswaran. Why are the Sinhalese Politicians brainless.

    Jaliya Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:50 AM

    Asking for an import permit is NOT the same as asking for equal rights. Luxury car is a privileged and a personnel choice. Don’t get your postcards mixed up. No one as a parliamentarian is entitle to a tax free permit at the expense of the deprived citizen.

    PC Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:36 AM

    Dont compare this idiot to the tamil political leaders of yesteryear. This is a political opportunist who has done nothing for anyone!

    Thanga Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:29 AM

    Chief Minister (very soon ex-chief minister) used to berate the TNA MPs of selling the Tamils for positions and perks. Now we find he himself is applying for a duty-free car import permit when his days are getting numbered. To be exact there are only 20 days left before his term as Chief Minister comes to an end. Even if the permit is given, does he have Rs.10.2 million to import the vehicle? At the elections held in 2013, he told the TNA that lives on his monthly pension and he has no funds to spend on election campaign. The only way he can import the vehicle is to sell the permit to Mudalalis and in the process make a neat profit like the MPs and 8000 Government servants. Preaching is easy the difficult part is to practice what you preach.

    Saranga Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:44 AM

    First off it's wrong both morally and ethically to have permit system which creats a virtual class system in the country-this is 2018 no one should and everyone should pay taxes and buy what they likeAlso there is no such thing called semi, luxury or super luxuryIs SL in 2018 or another planetNorma are basic Toyota or a normal Jean and t-shirt, high end BMW Merc and Ralph Lauren or Armani , luxury such as LV , Balcapan and say cars alike BentleySomeone needs to educate our people and I don't see media does that in SLMedia seems to have no clue at times

    Jaliya Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:55 AM

    Good Comment

    mnsmart Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:49 AM

    In India, where Vigneswaran goes behind, use Maruti or Ambassador cars.

    HE Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:09 AM

    You fool, what type of cars our own President and Prime Minister using ?

    Aney! Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:55 AM

    Aney, aney! Like the Cardinal, he also wants to move about in a luxury vehicle to fight for the sinners and down trodden!!!

    ANTON Thursday, 04 October 2018 08:04 AM

    I THOUGHT HE USUALLY GIVES FINANCIAL AIDS TO POOR PEOPLE IN THE NORTH.

    Sri Lankan Tamil Thursday, 04 October 2018 08:28 AM

    Wigneswaran's term as CM is going to end, why should the Govt consider any new vehicles for him. Send him home or to the remnant LTTE in USA.

    asoka Thursday, 04 October 2018 08:29 AM

    10 million is not a big amount to make such a fuss?... or the figures are wrong?

    Nalin Thursday, 04 October 2018 08:55 AM

    After six months / one year the original circular for duty concession vehicles should be implemented. According to the circular there is a reasonable limit on the c.i.f. value and those who import a vehicle with a duty concession cannot sell the vehicle for five years and cannot use any government vehicle for five years.

    Truth Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:06 AM

    Lets get the facts right first. All other Chief Ministers were given a permit equvalent to what is given to a Deputy Minister with the EXCEPTION being the Northern Chief Minister who was given a devalued permit that is normally given to a Provincial Minister. The paper was put to rectify the anomaly. I am no fan of the CM but lets get the facts right

    Ronnie Bugger Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:11 AM

    In my opinion, this Chief Minister has done this to 'spite' the Government decision to suspend such extravagancy. Ask him to import or buy ex-stock the car of his choice using his own money.

    sach Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:12 AM

    propaganda against him?

    Lokka Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:25 AM

    Give this poor man the vehicle he is asking for for the services he has done. After all this may be his last chance to get a duty free vehicle.

    Ghost Friday, 05 October 2018 07:42 AM

    What has he done except putting spokes in the wheels of those who are trying to do something for HIS people???

    Sri Lankan Tamil Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:26 AM

    Just a month to go in his present tenure. So it's not the need of vehicle. He knows well if he requests a vehicle now it will be rejected. Then Why? To portray to the people that government denies his rights.. govt suppresses Tamils.. etc this will be inline with his election propaganda.

    Sangaralingham Thursday, 04 October 2018 09:27 AM

    Equal opportunity politician. Why not. Share the same privilege but all that happening at every else expense. Why not make sacrifice to help public who helped elect you this I mean all across the country. Upgrade schools hospitals garbage management village education etc

    මරු ද සිරා Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:16 AM

    අපේ කර මතින් දෝලාවෙන් යන්නෝ - අපිට පයින් යන්න කියන හැටි මෙන්නෝ

    Jude Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:19 AM

    Wiggie, my dear bad timing!!??huh!!

    ranjith Thursday, 04 October 2018 10:38 AM

    Well Asoka,with Rs. 10 Million you can create an entire village with houses for the poor in the Northern province. I know because I am a builder. That is how much it is.Think.

    ram Thursday, 04 October 2018 02:37 PM

    Ranjith, I arrange 10 million can you build houses for one of the village in war toned northern province.

    Appusingho Thursday, 04 October 2018 11:42 AM

    MPs and various government servants are entitled to car permits etc. Can anyone tell what are the entitlements of tax payers and the general public.

    Nana Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:51 PM

    While we are dead against these permits, it is not right to restrict only to one person. But same time rule is rule, he may have to wait till it is relaxed.

    Harini Thursday, 04 October 2018 12:59 PM

    I predict the economy will recover the day after this government is sent home.

    Ceylon Thursday, 04 October 2018 01:52 PM

    usd 60,000 can't buy a super luxury car.even can't buy middle luxury car.writers must have a knowledge about what they are writing about.readers loose confidence about their news and become a joke.benz s class,bmw 7 series,lexus ls,pricess are each over $ 150,000 plus.these are the luxury cars.super luxury cars are rollce roice and bently.rollce roice starting from $ 250,000 to1 million plus,bently starting from $ 250,000 to 1 million plus.

    S.P.RAMKUMAR Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:14 PM

    why did this cabinet spokesperson highlight CV's permit only. why dint he tell others' request. it is bloody shame.

    Siri de Alwis Thursday, 04 October 2018 07:42 PM

    Why hell they all want luxury cars. Why not one for aboutUS $ 10.000,-.


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