Opposition MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake clashed with Prime Minister Harini Amarasuirya in Parliament today over the use of state vehicles. 

Addressing the Parliament, MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake accused government MPs and Ministers of using state vehicles, despite the government having claimed that it would not allocate state vehicles.

The MP raised concerns in this regard in response to Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya’s statement in which she claimed the government has not issued state vehicles to MPs of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka. 

She further said that a vehicle has been only issued to MP Sugath Wasantha de Silva by the Presidential Secretariat, taking into consideration his special needs, adding that however, he has not been provided a driver or fuel allowance.

MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake then responded that an MP living in Madiwala was using a Range Rover which costs more than a V8 SUV,  disputing the government’s claims that state vehicles have not been issued to MPs. 

A heated exchange then ensued between Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, with the PM saying that the government would investigate the claims. (Newswire)

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The government has instructed state institutions to auction selected luxury vehicles with a high-capacity engine, including V8 models, and provide a report on the income generated before 01 March 2025 to the Ministry of Finance.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the instructions have been issued by Finance Ministry Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena to all heads of state institutions via a special circular.

Per the circular, vehicles that fall under the HS 87.03 category of the Customs Ordinance, such as Petrol vehicles with a high-capacity engine of over 1800CC and Diesel vehicles with a high-capacity engine of over 2300CC, such as double cabs, single cab, vans, bus, lorry, and trucks, are to be auctioned.

The Finance Ministry has prohibited state institutions from acquiring any of the vehicles that are to be auctioned. 

The circular further points out that it is the responsibility of all state institution heads to ensure that all state vehicles are monitored and utilized in a manner that incurs less expense for the state entity and prevents its misuse. (Newswire)

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Responding to allegations that she had been provided with a Porsche Cayenne during her tenure under former president Ranil Wickremesinghe’s regime, Rosy Senanayake says the vehicle was one among eight used by her from time to time. 

Speaking during a special press conference held today, Rosy Senanayake briefed the media on the various vehicles she had been provided by the President’s Office during her tenure. 

She further revealed that she had used eight vehicles during her stint as a Presidential advisor, with the Porsche Cayenne being the last vehicle used before the regime change.

“All vehicles that were provided during 2023 were exchanged after it had broken down. I had used a total of eight vehicles. Once my final vehicle broke down, the President’s Office provided me with an unmaintained Porsche Cayenne. I immediately contacted the person in charge of vehicle distribution and requested a different vehicle. He advised me to use the vehicle until they could obtain another vehicle in exchange. The Porsche Cayenne broke down soon after it was used and was sent for exchange,” she explained. 

Revealing that the Porsche Cayenne which was offered to her was breaking down, with doors not opening and water leaking through the sunroof, Rosy Senanayake denied she had experienced luxury during her tenure. 

Her clarification comes after the new administration had listed her return of a Porsche Cayenne among the state vehicles that were returned by former Parliamentarians and government officials, which had made rounds on social media. (Newswire)

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Former Parliamentarian Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara has claimed as false information the inclusion of his name among the list of persons who had recently returned state vehicles following the regime change.

According to the list revealed to the media by the new administration, Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara is reported to have returned a Toyota Hilux vehicle.

Taking to social media, the former Parliamentarian issued a statement, claiming that the information that he had used a Toyota Hilux vehicle and that he was a Member of Parliament was false. 

“I entered Parliament from the Moneragala District in 2004 and reentered in 2015, serving as a Member of Parliament until 2020. After this, I have remained an independent person and a non-member of Parliament. Due to personal reasons I have exited politics and have not engaged in any activities related to Sri Lankan politics,” he clarified. 

Former Parliamentarian Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara said, as such, his name has been misused, adding that he had not used such a state vehicle as claimed. 

He further urged the authorities to initiate legal action against him if he has been found to have used a state vehicle as claimed in the list revealed to the media. (Newswire)

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