Presidential Secretariat uses over 600 vehicles: PM

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, March 21 (Daily Mirror) -The Presidential Secretariat currently uses 634 vehicles, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya revealed in Parliament yesterday.

Responding to an oral question raised by MP Chaminda Wijesiri in the House, the Prime Minister said the number of vehicles used by the Presidential Secretariat had, however, been reduced by more than 200 compared to the number used during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

She said that the Presidential Secretariat used 833 vehicles during the tenure of President Wickremesinghe.

MP Wijesiri then queried how the Presidential Secretariat could use as many as 634 vehicles. “The government pledged to minimise wastage and to use a minimum number of vehicles. Therefore, how can the Presidential Secretariat use more than 600 vehicles?” he asked.

Responding, the Prime Minister said the government had only pledged to reduce the usage of vehicles. “We only pledged to reduce the usage of vehicles, and we have implemented it. I cannot help if the MP cannot understand this fact,” she said.

It was also revealed that about 60 vehicles previously used by the Presidential Secretariat have been given to various other state institutions after the present government came into power.