‘Out of over 10,000 discarded govt vehicles, 4,116 can be used’

Colossal waste due to poor maintenance

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A recent survey has revealed that 4,116 usable vehicles had been discarded by government institutions.

According to a proposal made by Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sept 2 to the Cabinet of ministers these vehicles could be used following repairs whereas 5,588 were in a depleted state due to the failure on the part of respective institutions to properly maintain them.

The revelation was made at yesterday’s post-cabinet media briefing at the Government Information Department where Co-Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Plantations Dr. Ramesh Pathirana explained the circumstances leading to the government exploring ways and means of using abandoned vehicles against the backdrop of severe shortage of foreign exchange.

In addition to Dr. Pathirana, cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella, who holds the Mass Media portfolio and co-cabinet spokesman addressed the media on a number of issues. Referring to instructions received from Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the President Dr. Pathirana said that there was an excess of vehicles in the local market. Both Dr. Pathirana and Rambukwella emphasized that vehicle imports could be stopped for about a year.

Reference was made to the continuing balance of payments crisis and what they called serious issue of shortfall in foreign exchange against the backdrop of covid-19 pandemic paralysing economies everywhere.

The government intends to hand over repaired vehicles to those institutions that needed them through Comptroller General’s Office at the Finance Ministry.

Those who had duty free permits could use them to buy vehicle locally, the media was also told.