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More officials get duty free vehicles

16 June 2012 04:49 am - 45     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government is offering a bonanza to a large number of senior public and provincial council officials who are entitled for duty free vehicles.

The Finance and Planning Ministry in a circular under the signature of Director General P.A. Dias has called for applications from public and PC officials, who had not bought duty free vehicles from 2007 to apply for import permits under a special duty waiver.
 
All public officers entitled to a duty free vehicle are permitted to import one every five years.
 
A senior Treasury official said the government spent US$2.6 billion this year to import vehicles for Pradeshiya Sabah Chairmen and provincial councillors. The cabinet had increased the ceiling on vehicle permits for parliamentarians from US$35,000 to 50,000 in 2010.
 
He said public servants are given tax waivers to import a vehicle up to the value of US$25,000 and some 1,000 public and Provincial Council officials will get the opportunity to obtain this facility.
 
The permission to import vehicles under the new circular will impose an added burden on the economy as the rupee is depreciating rapidly against the dollar at Rs.130.35 yesterday.
 
The official said the country’s exports suffered the biggest fall of 10 per cent in the first quarter of this year when compared with last year while imports grew by four per cent. The foreign reserves are estimated at US$ 5.8 billion as opposed to US$ 7 billion last year. (Sandun A Jayasekera)

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  Comments - 45

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  • Fair N Square Sunday, 17 June 2012 07:39 AM

    " Neva Gilunath Ban Choon"

    Titanic Sunday, 17 June 2012 12:28 AM

    I am working in japan for more than 25 years ,remitting foreign currencies to my account,why we not given duty free or some consession to import a vehicle in our life time, The BLUE PERMITT was not existing any more, but once in every 5 years these politicians,provincial councial officers get permitt. This is very unreasonable,This government should go, i pray.

    Sedawatta Sunday, 17 June 2012 01:05 AM

    Neva gilunith ban choon.

    Rock on people.

    Concerned Citizen Sunday, 17 June 2012 01:34 AM

    Why is it only the Sinior & Public officers enjoying? what about the Sri lankans who work abroad under emense pressure & difficult situations, they are the ones who deserve as they bring in the forgine currency? What has this Government does for these people?

    Jagath Leanage Sunday, 17 June 2012 02:02 AM

    Why these politicians enjoy too much of facilities? Duty free cars, free houses , children going to best National schools, back up vehicles, once they take bribes easily sliping through law, no law and order for them etc.,etc.,
    When a small ma bring down a vehicle they increased duty to 200% .Comon PBJ wake up.

    Sunanda Sunday, 17 June 2012 02:14 AM

    Govt must re-introduce vehicle permits for migrant workers not for donkey politicials. Migrant workers only earn and sent hard earn foreign exchange to the country. They derserve this not politicians

    john Sunday, 17 June 2012 02:47 AM

    I come to SL once a year after working 6days per week and 12hours per day on Avg with no public holidays, poya or mercantile holidays. I send my money back home legally. What do i get? a duty free allowance of USD 1875/- if i am not mistaken. I am not asking the moon, plz equally distribute the resources to people in need not these donkeys

    Fazli Sunday, 17 June 2012 02:51 AM

    Keep milking the public. Cheers ! Go ahead.

    Em Sunday, 17 June 2012 04:15 AM

    We work hard & pay taxes for these morons to enjoy

    KABAB Sunday, 17 June 2012 04:48 AM

    Even though expatriates have an allowance of US$1750/- or so, when we bring home a washer/dryer (15 Kg) the customs officers demanding that this is not allowed and have to pay a huge amount. (Rs. 15000/-) or demanding Rs. 10000/- to release the item. This is the situation in Sri Lanka. From A-Z all corrupted.

    Akram Sunday, 17 June 2012 04:52 AM

    No Issue next year government will give duty free aircraft to ministers

    Our country is going to be bank craft

    Neva gilunith ban choon hariyata hari

    sanaboy Sunday, 17 June 2012 05:50 AM

    Giving all the facilities to corrupted people who worked in government service

    Nimal Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:59 PM

    All these politicians are stealing billions and billions of our money. Our people ( voters ) so loyal to certain political party
    no matter what they do. as civilians we have to get organize so we can demand from these thieves before we vote. Are you ready?

    Fair N Square Sunday, 17 June 2012 07:44 AM

    well said.. atleast u guys send something to boost the economy.. WHAT did these ppl WHO WERE MORE OR LESS ELECTED by the people do to get a duty free permit. Migrant workers IF they stay more than 12 months get a tiny allowance NOT enough to buy anything more than household goods. Shame on ppl who advocate such benefits....

    banu Sunday, 17 June 2012 08:18 AM

    We are working in foreign countries for years, allow us to import a duty free vehicle for our personal use.

    buruwa Sunday, 17 June 2012 10:31 AM

    Not only that
    when Hambantota Airport opens all budget airlines will be diverted there.
    Most migrant workers have to pay more than Rs 10,000 addiditional taxi-fare from / to H'tota Airport. (Sri Lanka's population is mostly spread around Colombo suburbs).
    That's to keep Hambantota Airport busy

    upul Sunday, 17 June 2012 10:34 AM

    Please note that this is an sincere effort to reward people who sacrifice to the society.

    modawansa Sunday, 17 June 2012 03:22 PM

    Great comment. Can someone please publish this in the front page

    Raman du - Sunday, 17 June 2012 06:17 PM

    Half the Sr Lankans are fools . For a cup of tea
    Loyalty can be bought.

    This govt will definitely go for IMF help every
    6 months.
    Shear madness . I am not blaming the govt
    Blaming the voters.

    sobbey Monday, 18 June 2012 03:22 AM

    I assume some calculation error.
    $ 50,000*225 = 11,250,000
    How come $ 2.6 billion?

    Sanath R Monday, 18 June 2012 05:27 AM

    Wonder when sanity will dawn upon this government.

    Founder Monday, 18 June 2012 05:34 AM

    Govt. should bring a rule for such officers to use the vehicles obtained using the permit, to use the same for official use too for five years and abstain from providing an official vehicle for the period.

    Nadaal Monday, 18 June 2012 05:56 AM

    Well said Dayan. Reminds me the saying by English then. We all voted this administration in so face the music now. This is nothing compared to other massive losses caused to the economy by this administration.

    Lanke Banda Saturday, 16 June 2012 01:48 PM

    & Millions of Lankans are wondering from where the next meal will come from .

    j Saturday, 16 June 2012 05:20 AM

    Poor house maid and migrant workers earn US $ for them to spend. who care about poor citizens and migrant workers

    thnuka Saturday, 16 June 2012 05:24 AM

    There is nothing for the people who work abrade and send foreign remittance to the national economy.. only we pay a huge amount to FE Bureau on our departure..

    Jagath Leanage Saturday, 16 June 2012 08:06 AM

    PBJ said vehicle importaion should be curtailed. How does he allow these type of things? Telling some thing and doing another. What a shame PBJ.

    Dayan Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:26 AM

    Why to stop this madness as people have given their vote to do this.
    Just watch and enjoy the show

    adam Saturday, 16 June 2012 12:15 PM

    This is to understand you policy makers. Both private sector employee’s and overseas worker’s contribution to the economy is very significant and far beyond the government workers. When you make policies, please consider the efficiency as well. Grant those benefits to those who are entitled to receive. Please don’t make policies with political agenda which aims at wining the next election.

    senavi Saturday, 16 June 2012 12:26 PM

    Have to "export" more women as house maids to earn dollars for this hardworking officials

    Gunathilaka Saturday, 16 June 2012 12:24 PM

    what about the permit for foreign workers??

    haid Saturday, 16 June 2012 12:57 PM

    how about the expatriates toiling in foreign lands earning foreign exchange?

    Wouldn't we get any sort benefit to import vehicles. Based on average yearly transfers to SL.

    Black Mamba Saturday, 16 June 2012 01:12 PM

    A bonanza with the peoples' money for doing nothing for the people!!!

    meranchi Saturday, 16 June 2012 01:22 PM

    we die hear to earn f origin revenue to the home country those people enjoying over sweat ....i

    ase Saturday, 16 June 2012 05:02 AM

    is there any one who could stop this is sheer madness. vehical menia, indiretk bribery, useing our forgien currency which we send home after hard work.

    Minister Saturday, 16 June 2012 02:31 PM

    No no no, no burden to us at all. Pls import and give them not one but two or three each, After all the An Company is now going on its rims but we all are still deshapremies!!

    buruwa Saturday, 16 June 2012 05:02 PM

    Watura natanakan kakuluwa diya keliyalu.

    buruwa Saturday, 16 June 2012 05:14 PM

    idiot foreign workers,

    why you send hard earned money here?

    We can take international loans easily & enjoy well.

    When Sri lanka goes bankrupt, everything will be over , until then let's be happy.

    Gamunu Saturday, 16 June 2012 06:29 PM

    This is nothing but sheer lunacy. The man at the top seems to have lost his head completely. Heaven help us !

    RajasH Saturday, 16 June 2012 08:12 PM

    is this to keep Hambantota Port busy?

    Disappointed one Saturday, 16 June 2012 09:22 PM

    Politics in Sri Lanka has become a lucrative business.
    It is pathetic to see all the goons, uneducated bustards, drug dealers make way in to politics get all the benefits and the general public to pay for it.
    These useless politicians earns duty free vehicles permits up to US$ 50,000/- whereas the intellectuals, and public servants with proper education gets only US$ 25K.
    No relief to the migrant workers who earns the foreign income.

    It is very pathetic to see that no leader wants to end this corrupt and unfair political culture as they want to make sure that their sons and daughters and their entire generation thrive through this corrupt system.
    “ ane api kawadaka henahemuda me rate…..”

    G.D.Sarath Saturday, 16 June 2012 09:27 PM

    President and ministers keep telling that migrant workers send foriegn currency to country in large scale but we are entitled only tiny duty free allowance.We have actually right to get duty free allowance to import a vehicle before ministers and other citizens.Please grant us our right atleast before end of this year keeping a minimum amount that migrant worker should send foriegn currency to Sri lanka.

    Xfernando Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:02 PM

    If you do the math, every single person in Sri Lanka will be paying $130 or approx Rs. 17,000 towards the cars for the minsters. If you have four people in your house, including children that is approx Rs. 67,000 for the cars that your house paid in taxes. That is $2.6 billion divided by 20 million people (give or take few dollars).

    We Sri Lankans certainly love our ministers to pay so much for their comforts!

    Political Illiterate Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:11 PM

    but theyb are not voters because they are overseas!

    Manik Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:32 PM

    In reply to all those adverse comments above I have one question. Didn't you guys know that now this Banana Republic has achieved the "Miracle of Asia" status and that any miracle can happen here?. Even though Govt officials except perhaps doctors find it difficult to pump fuel into cars every on is given permits. Politicians of course have ways of earning money over and above their legitimate salaries.


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