Black Mercedes worth Rs 80 Mn ordered for LECO chairman raises eyebrows

• The order for the Mercedes was not placed during his tenure, says current chairman

By Yohan Basura

A Mercedes-Benz car worth about Rs. 80 million has reportedly been ordered for the use of the Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) Chairman, and the vehicle is expected to arrive in the country shortly, according to LECO workers.
They claim that the order was placed despite the Chairman already having a Mercedes-Benz vehicle allocated for his use. Workers further revealed that around 10 BYD vehicles were recently purchased for senior LECO officers. According to internal sources, former Chairman Janaka Aluthge, who was appointed soon after the NPP came into power, had placed the order for the new Mercedes-Benz. They added that the importing company initially had a silver-coloured vehicle available, but LECO had reportedly insisted on a black model, prompting the company to import a new unit specifically to meet that requirement.
Soon after the NPP formed the government, then chairman Athula Silva was removed, and Janaka Aluthge was appointed Chairman. However,  Aluthge was later removed, and Kanishka Jayasekera assumed duties as the new Chairman a few days ago. Workers also complained that super-luxury vehicles imported for former chairmen in 2009 and 2013 remain in good condition, and instead of using those vehicles, new ones are being imported repeatedly.
When contacted, current Chairman Kanishka Jayasekera confirmed that an order had been placed for a Mercedes-Benz, but said the vehicle has not yet arrived. He stressed that the order was not placed under his tenure, as he assumed office only a few days ago. He further stated that if there is any issue regarding the procurement process, he is not willing to use the vehicle, adding that he is currently examining whether proper procedures were followed in placing the order. Jayasekera noted that he has been known to use luxury-type vehicles for a long time and therefore has no personal requirement or desire to use this new vehicle. He added that if someone else wishes to use it, he is prepared to hand it over.
When asked about the matter, former Chairman Janaka Aluthge said it would be better to direct the questions to the current officers at LECO. “Who ordered the vehicle and why it was ordered can be asked from the responsible persons at LECO—other than the current Chairman,” he said.