Rs 1.4 billion scam involved in awarding tender for import of cabs: Opposition MP

• Also, the MP said the government should make a note of the cost of living as one person has to spend more than Rs 16,000 for his food alone

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana
A scam worth Rs 1.4 billion is involved in awarding the tender to import cabs, SLPP MP D. V. Chanaka told Parliament yesterday.   
“The specification of the tenders have been prepared to ensure that a certain company is awarded the tender to import cabs as per the budget proposal which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake came out in his budget speech. The commission for one cab is said to be Rs 1 million. Therefore, the full value of the commission comes to Rs 1400 million ( Rs 1.4 billion),” the MP said.   

“President Dissanayake would have shouted if he was in the Opposition saying there is a Rs 1.4 billion scam behind the importation of cabs,” he added.   
He said cancelling of vehicle permit for MPs is not something new as the previous government also did not implement it.” We never asked for vehicle permits,” he said.   
Also, the MP said government should make a note of the cost of living as one person has to spend more than Rs 16,000 for his food alone. “The cost of food for a four member family would come to more than Rs 60,000 as per the price of food items today,” he said.