MPs' New Vehicles Must Be Returned to Government After Term Ends, Says Deputy Minister

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Namal Karunaratne, says that vehicles provided to Members of Parliament (MPs) are on a returnable basis and should be returned to the government once the member's term in office ends. 

Highlighting on the availability of vehicles in the government, The Deputy Minister said that there are vehicles that have been used by government institutions for 20, 25, or even 30 years and emphasized that new vehicles are needed as those vehicles are no longer in a usable state. 

Additionally, he said some demands in some institututions must be fulfilled, as some government institutions do not have vehicles. 

MPs are part of the process when the public service system is being strengthened. Vehicles acquired by MPs are not needed by state or deputy ministers, since their ministries already provide them with government vehicles.

However, Members of parliament who do not have vehicles are supplied with one, but they are not granted ownership. No vehicle permits are issued to those MPs.

Those vehicles are provided on temporary basis, just like the vehicles allocated to officials in other government institutions.