Former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has strongly denied allegations regarding his use of vehicles and fuel consumption during his tenure, claiming that data from a special audit report is being distorted by certain groups for political purposes.
Issuing a statement, Abeywardena said attempts are being made to mislead the public about observations on vehicle usage by parliamentary officials between 2015 and 2024.
He dismissed as “completely false” claims that he used nine vehicles while serving as Speaker, stressing that the audit report itself confirms he only used vehicles officially provided by Parliament.
He explained that all vehicles were allocated in line with Presidential Secretariat circulars and state provisions, specifically for security requirements. Following the country’s special security situation after July 2022, additional personnel and vehicles were deployed for his protection.
On recommendations from the Ministry of Defence, the Presidential Secretariat provided a bulletproof vehicle with high fuel consumption, which he said was the main reason for increased fuel costs.
Abeywardena argued that comparing the fuel consumption of official convoys and nationwide tours undertaken by the Speaker, the third citizen of the country, with the personal vehicle use of an ordinary individual was “unscientific.”
He added that as Speaker he was required to travel extensively across the island, and such duties naturally demanded higher fuel usage.
The former Speaker emphasized that he has no objection to legal action if evidence of irregularities exists.
He noted that all vehicle running records and fuel usage reports are maintained by Parliament and can be verified by anyone. He urged political groups not to distort the truth by using partial data for narrow objectives.
Abeywardena further highlighted that during 2022 the country faced severe economic and social instability, which directly impacted parliamentary administration and security arrangements.
He credited the dedication of staff and institutions for maintaining stability during that period.
Looking ahead, he said reforms and development plans, including administrative modernization, were being pursued to strengthen governance and contribute to national economic growth.
His statement concluded with a call for transparency and accountability, while warning against the misuse of audit data for political gain. (Newswire)
