Govt. to probe CHOGM bus imports

The government yesterday agreed in Parliament to probe the allegation that there were financial misappropriation and irregularities in the import of luxury buses for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Colombo last year.

During the question time, UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake said these buses had been imported from a Chinese company which had overvalued them by 20 per cent. He also charged that these buses were handed over to various government and private organizations in an ad hoc manner.

Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama responded saying, “Now that, you have given us the necessary details. We can look into it.”

In response to the original question raised by UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma in this regard, Dr. Amunugama said 100 42-seater buses imported under a leasing agreement signed with the Bank of Ceylon were placed under various government institutions and six private organizations.  Sixty eight of them have been given to the Sri Lanka Transport Board.

In addition 30 buses (29 seater) imported under the same scheme had been given to state institutions.   Five of these buses now remain with the Presidential Secretariat.

The Treasury took steps to import these buses to be used for the CHOGM first, and then for the benefit of other state and private organizations. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)