Deputy ministers condemn proposal to purchase new vehicles for ministers

Not warranted in present situation, against good governance principles

While the Government has said it would temporarily put off the purchase of new vehicles for ministers in order to allocate funds for the victims of recent disasters, several deputy ministers maintain that to even consider such purchases contravenes the ‘good governance’ principles that the Government tries to promote.

Chief Government Whip and Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake presented to Parliament on Tuesday a supplementary estimate to purchase 32 new vehicles at a cost of Rs.1.18 billion for Cabinet, state and deputy ministers. Minister Karunathilake presented the estimate on behalf of Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake.

On Friday, it was announced that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had instructed the Treasury to suspend allocating funds for new vehicles until funds were allocated to the victims of the natural disasters experienced last month and last week’s explosion at the Kosgama Army camp in Salawa.

Several Deputy Ministers including Palitha Thewarapperuma, Ranjan Ramanayake and Harsha De Silva have already made public their rejection of the new vehicle offer.

Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs and Internal Affairs Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma heaped scorn on those who had requested new vehicles. “All those who requested vehicles have their own private vehicles, some even have helicopters,” he told theSunday Times.

Mr. Thewarapperuma added he was offered a brand new vehicle worth Rs. 28 million when he was sworn in as deputy minister two months ago. “I wrote to the ministry secretary suggesting the funds allocated for the vehicle should be utilised for the betterment of the country’s artistes.”

He rejected the claim made by several Government ministers that they needed new off-road vehicles to travel to parts of their electorates that might be inaccessible otherwise.

“We won the election by promising to resolve problems faced by the people. That should be our primary responsibility. Those who find they can’t do that without such luxuries should pack up and go home,” Mr. Thewarapperuma stressed.

Social Empowerment and Welfare Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake said he too wrote back to his ministry secretary stating he had no need of a new vehicle. “At a time when the Treasury is nearly empty and we are trillions of rupees in debt, it is up to us to set an example. We did pledge on the campaign platform to lead a simple life, ” he pointed out.

Mr. Ramanayake however, pointed out that the move to allocate funds for new vehicles was drawing strong criticism precisely because it was brought before Parliament for approval. “During the tenure of Mahinda Rajapaksa, some 700 religious leaders and astrologers were able to purchase luxury vehicles using state funds. The President’s Fund was abused to give millions of rupees to politicians for their ailments. Parliament was not informed about any of that.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Ramanayake admitted those from the current Government were supposed to be held to a higher standard. “At least, this is in the public domain under Yahapalanaya. However, it is wrong, no matter who does it", he said.

Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Deputy Minister Karunarathna Paranawithana explained that the current process allows a minister or deputy minister to obtain a new vehicle after using one for a period of five years. The old vehicle though, stays with the ministry and passes onto officials such as a ministry secretary or additional secretary. This process has been in existence some time, he observed.

“However, when the current Government was established with the two main political parties, it necessitated an increase in the number of ministers. A considerable number of state and deputy ministers do still lack necessary facilities to perform their duties, including vehicles, so there should be a mechanism whereby they can obtain those facilities.”

In the past, vehicles for ministries would be requested through the respective budget prepared by each ministry. “That process has now changed somewhat and this was why a supplementary estimate was presented with the Value Added Tax (VAT) also added to the price of the vehicles. This however, created a media storm.”

Nevertheless, Mr. Paranawithana, said a correct decision has now been made to temporarily suspend the supplementary estimate.