ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s parliamentarians are on track to get completely taxpayer financed vehicles instead of the earlier practice of financing their own cars without tax, according to statements made by government spokesmen.
“To all parliamentarians, including opposition members, the government will give a vehicle to do their work,” Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told a late-night talk show on Sri Lanka’s Derana television.
There had been unhappiness at the way politicians and government workers were given tax free and tax slashed cars, in a selective application of the law, when the public had to pay very high taxes for cars and motorcycles.
Unlike other people, MPs are the people who vote to charge high taxes from the people.
The practice started in the 1980s.
The anchor pointed out that the taxpayer will now have to pay the cost of the vehicle as well under the planned policy.
It is not clear whether the tax-free, cost-free cars for 225 legislators will also be maintained at taxpayer expense.
MPs will also be allowed to buy the vehicle at the end of 5 years at a depreciated price, Minister Herath said.
“When it is a government vehicle, they will not be careful about its use,” Minister Herath said.
“That is a problem with government vehicles. Even if it is damaged they will not fix it. If we create a situation where they can get it after the end of five years based on how they have used it, on the valuation they can get it.”
Government vehicles are usually not insured. It is not clear whether the accidents will be repaired at taxpayer expense or whether insurance will also be paid at taxpayer expense.
National Peoples Power MP Dharmapriya Dissanayake had earlier told reporters that all parliamentarians will get new cars.
If old cars are given there will be complaints that vehicles have different mileage, Minister Herath said.
“We have to give everyone a car equally,” Minister Herath said. “If used vehicles are given there will be a problem. One person is given a vehicle driven for 45,000. The other one is given 60,000. So one MP will say the one was treated this way.
“The government MP was given this and we were given this. That cannot happen.”
Government Ministers are usually given taxpayer financed cars. (Colombo/Jan21/20250
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