Twenty-six (26) vehicles, including luxury and decommissioned models, are scheduled to be auctioned tomorrow (15 May), as part of the second phase of the luxury vehicle auction conducted by the Presidential Secretariat.

According to the President’s Office, all vehicles set to be auctioned were manufactured within the last ten years, while the deadline for submitting bids for these vehicles concluded today.

Among the vehicles to be auctioned are 01 BMW car, 02 Ford Everest Jeeps, 01 Hyundai Terracan Jeep, 02 Land Rover Jeeps, 01 Mitsubishi Montero, 03 Nissan Patrol vehicles, 02 Nissan cars, 01  Porsche Cayenne, 05 SsangYong Rexton Jeeps, 01 Toyota Land Cruiser Sahara, 06 V08 vehicles and 01 Mitsubishi Rosa air-conditioned bus. 

Previously, under the first phase of this auction, 14 luxury vehicles, six decommissioned vehicles, and various spare parts were sold.

This initiative is part of the government’s effort to reduce expenditure and promote financial responsibility. In the first phase, 15 vehicles, including nine Defender jeeps, were successfully auctioned.

The vehicles being auctioned tomorrow are not part of the official vehicle fleet assigned to the regular staff of the Presidential Secretariat, but those that were used by advisors and staff appointed by the former President under Article 41(1) of the Constitution during his term in office. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has decided to conduct a study on vehicles used in all state institutions and dispose of them by selling, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said. 

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing today, Minister Jayatissa said that super luxury vehicles exceeding 1800 CC (petrol) and 2300cc (diesel) that require costly maintenance will be disposed of in this manner.

He further said that all Ministry Secretaries have been informed to find out about the vehicles that have been assigned to the various departments and projects related to the ministries. 

Minister Jayatissa said the Ministry Secretaries have been instructed to hand over a report in this regard to the Presidential Secretariat after which the necessary decisions will be taken on the vehicles. 

The Cabinet Spokesman also clarified that this decision in no way is related to the government’s decision on vehicle imports and will not have any impact on the process or the country’s foreign exchange. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Diana Gamage says she was offered a Landcruiser V8 vehicle during her tenure as the State Minister of Tourism, to carry out her official duties.

Speaking to the media, Gamage said that she had been provided several unmaintained vehicles from the Tourism Ministry during her tenure.

She said, however, that she was forced to approach the Presidential Secretariat to obtain a vehicle in good condition to carry out her responsibilities, which were mostly onfield. 

“Every vehicle I was given by the Tourism Ministry was of low maintenance. I nearly met with an accident while using one such unmaintained vehicle. Eventually, I had no choice but to reach out to the President’s Office, after which I received a proper vehicle,” she said.

Having used the vehicle during her tenure, Diana Gamage said that once leaving her position she returned the vehicle to the Presidential Secretariat.

The former minister also accused Tourism Ministry officials of profiting by keeping such unmaintained vehicles, adding that she has evidence to prove her allegations. 

Diana Gamage is the latest former state official to comment on the lack of maintenance of state vehicles. 

The comment comes after former Presidential Advisor Rosy Senanayake revealed that the Porsche Cayenne vehicle she was given during her tenure was also unmaintained, with doors not opening and the sunroof leaking water. (Newswire)

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The vehicles that had been brought to the Presidential Secretariat from various government institutions, including Ministries and Departments, were returned to their respective agencies today (01), at the parking area near the secretariat.

Today, 19 vehicles were released, with approximately 15 being collected by officials from the relevant agencies who arrived on prior notice.

A total of 15 vehicles were returned to their respective institutions today, including 08 from the Road Development Authority (RDA), 03 from the Ministry of Finance, and 01 each from the Southern Provincial Council, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage, Additional Secretary Mahesh Hewawitharana, and other officials were present at the event.

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The President’s Office has corrected the list of former state officials who had returned their state vehicles following the regime change, which was recently revealed to the media. 

Issuing a correction statement, the President’s Office acknowledged that it had reported Udayakantha Gunathilaka as Udayashantha Gunasekara, related to the return of a Toyota Hilux vehicle. 

The President’s Office extended an apology for the inconvenience caused to former MP Udayashantha Gunasekara due to the mistake and clarified that the vehicle had been used and returned by Udayakantha Gunathilaka.

The correction comes after former MP Udayashantha Gunasekara took to social media to clarify that he had not been part of the Parliament or involved as a state official after 2020. 

“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 MP Padma Udayashantha Gunasekara said, as such, his name has been misused, adding that he had not used such a state vehicle as claimed and that the report was false. (Newswire)

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The President’s Office has revealed details on the allocation of the state vehicles that were recently returned following the change in regime. 

Issuing a statement, the President’s Office said the returned vehicles had been parked outside the Presidential Secretariat under Police protection, due to a lack of space inside the state building premises. 

The President’s Office further said that the 107 vehicles had been provided for officials given private appointments by the former President under the powers vested in him. 

Stating that it was not the intention of the new administration to exhibit the returned state vehicles, the President’s Office said under the directive of the new President, measures are being taken to immediately allocate the vehicles for essential services. 

As per the President’s Office, the list of persons to whom the vehicles had been entrusted before is as follows;

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Former MP Dayasiri Jayasekera has urged the new government to auction the returned state vehicles and utilize the money for the Treasury, instead of misleading the public by making it an exhibit. 

The SLFP member made the remark after being inquired by the media on the dozens of returned state vehicles that are placed in the public car park close to the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.

“I think they get a little happiness by displaying the vehicles. In 2015 John Amaratunga also did a similar vehicle show at the Galle Face Green. These vehicles have not been used by ministers and MPs. These vehicles have been used by those at the President’s Office and government officials,” he said. 

Dayasiri Jayasekera further requested President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to auction the vehicles and deposit that money into the Treasury.

He also urged the President to instruct government officials to use three-wheelers to carry out their official work. (Newswire)

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• President Directs to allocate Luxury Vehicles Used by Previous Governments for Essential Services

• An investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department regarding vehicle misuse

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed relevant officials to allocate the luxury vehicles used by previous governments exclusively for essential services, according to the President’s Private Secretary, Ananda Wijepala.

Mr. Wijepala expressed regret over the misuse of public funds and emphasized that a full review will be conducted, with the public being informed of future actions. He made these remarks during a media briefing today (26) at the Galle Face grounds, where updates on actions taken regarding the parked vehicles were shared.

He further explained that the public money wasted by previous governments is symbolically represented by these vehicles parked here, noting that the current parking spaces at the Presidential Secretariat are insufficient to accommodate the vehicles.

A total of 107 vehicles are parked at Galle Face and other locations, which were provided to associates of past governments under various positions. Mr. Wijepala highlighted the unfortunate reality that over the past 76 years, successive governments have continued to waste public wealth while citizens struggled to meet basic needs.

He also revealed that while there is a shortage of ambulances for the healthcare sector and vehicles for public officials to perform their duties, vehicles worth millions of rupees were imported and distributed to political allies.

Mr. Wijepala reiterated the responsibility to safeguard public funds and assured that a comprehensive review of misused vehicles will be conducted. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed that these vehicles be reassigned to essential services to ensure efficient use.

He further disclosed that 59 vehicles obtained from various institutions had been distributed through the Presidential Secretariat to political allies, and despite the vehicle importation ban, 16 vehicles had been bought in for the Presidential Secretariat.

Additionally, Mr. Wijepala mentioned that among the 833 vehicles currently owned by the Presidential Secretariat, 29 vehicles are missing. He further stated that the Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed a systematic investigation into this matter through the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

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Dozens of vehicles returned by former ministers and state officials have become a public exhibit after being parked near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. 

Following the recent regime change, all former ministers and state officials were instructed to return their official vehicles.

The returned vehicles have been parked at the Presidential Secretariat premises and public car park outside the state building, which has public access.

Crowds were seen gathering at the location, with some videoing and taking photographs of the luxury vehicles.

Newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has vowed to cut down on the number of vehicles provided for official purposes, but it is unclear what he will decide concerning the returned state vehicles. (Newswire)

Crowds gather as vehicles returned by former Govt ministers and officials become an unexpected public attraction. Once reserved for VIPs, these luxury rides are now on display, drawing curious onlookers. pic.twitter.com/nem2Ua6Kbv

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) September 26, 2024

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Several state vehicles have been returned to the new administration following the election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the President of Sri Lanka. 

Former ministers and government ministry officials have returned the vehicles after the regime change.

Many of the vehicles have been parked at the relevant ministry premises and the Presidential Secretariat premises in Colombo.

The vehicles were returned after the Parliamentarians and government officials were instructed to return them after the election of a new regime. 

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has vowed to reduce the number of vehicles allocated to ministers and state officials.

It is unclear what the President will do with the vehicles and how they will be allocated in the future. (Newswire)

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