Daily Mirror report ignites debate in House Why double CAB imports at Rs.65 Bn for MPs?

Opposition MP questions Govt.’s duplicity  

Presently, the government has not allocated vehicles for MPs

In some cases, the cost of maintenance and repairs now exceeds the cost of purchasing new vehicles

In response, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said that such vehicle imports are intended primarily for government officials rather than MPs

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana   

The Daily Mirror’s front page lead story headlined ‘Govt. Considers Double Cab Imports for MPs’, in yesterday’s edition sparked a debate in Parliament with an opposition MP questioning the government’s duplicity in getting vehicles for parliamentarians at a cost of Rs.65 billion despite curtailment of other perks such as pensions for them.   
National Democratic Front MP Ravi Karunanayake questioned the rationale for considering the importation of double cabs at a time when it is proposing to abolish pensions for MPs across the divide in addition to charging them for meals being provided in the parliamentary cafeteria.   
“It has been reported that double cabs are to be imported for MPs. 
This is the same government that criticized the privileges enjoyed by MPs at the public’s expense. You now say that pensions for sitting MPs will remain, and that the proposed legislation to abolish pensions will only apply to future MPs. While that clarification is welcomed, how can you justify the plan to import double cabs for MPs under current circumstances?” Karunanayake asked.  
 
He said that the importation of these vehicles would cost the country Rs. 65 billion.   
In response, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti said that such vehicle imports are intended primarily for government officials rather than MPs as such.   
“Priority will be given to government officials, beginning with divisional secretaries,” the Minister said. “Many of them are currently using vehicles that are over 15 years old. In some cases, the cost of maintenance and repairs now exceeds the cost of purchasing new vehicles,” he said.   
Presently, the government has not allocated vehicles for MPs and also did away with issuing duty free permits for parliamentarians to import vehicles.   
However, in an exclusive article reported by the Daily Mirror yesterday, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala who is also in charge of parliamentary affairs said that the government mulls the import of double cabs for the use of MPs and the government institutions.   
“This is the idea we have at the moment. However, we have not decided when it will be done. We don’t know whether it will be done this year or next year,” he said.