11 June 2021 05:16 pm
Denouncing the moves by the Government to import 227 Prado SUVs amounting to US$ 18 million at this critical juncture, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said there was a massive fraud behind this vehicle import.
JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a special statement revealed that the Letter of Credits (LCs) had been opened to import the vehicle fleet on April 22, 2021 whereas the Cabinet approval was sought on May 18, 2021.
He said the LCs were opened even without Cabinet approval and said that the whole process behind this move was a deal with the MPs who voted for the Port City Bill.
“The LCs were opened on April 22, 2021. Cabinet approval was sought on May 18. However, this Cabinet Paper was rejected at the next Cabinet meeting on May 24. These LCs have been opened without a Cabinet approval. It is a deal with the MPs. They opened LCs and later realised that they wanted to get the approval. That was why the cabinet paper was presented a month later with a covering approval for measures taken thus far regarding the vehicle import. The whole process is corrupt and malicious,” he charged.
He urged the Government to reveal whether due tender procedure has been followed and competitive biddings have been called for before opening LCs.
The JVP Parliamentarian said the government should in the first place stop this move or at least sell the fleet of vehicles in public auction and raise funds to be used for some other useful purpose.(Ajith Siriwardana)