SLFP Vice President denounces attempt to import luxury vehicles for MPs

By Cyril Wimalasurendre

KANDY – Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)  Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa has denounced a government move to import luxury vehicles for MPs.

 The proposal to  import vehicles for the  use of Members of Parliament was an absurd move at a time the people of the country were battleing a deadly pandemic, Professor Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa told the media in Kandy on Saturday (05) 

The country’s needs had to be properly priorities and there was absolutely no need for new vehicles for the MPs, Prof. Piyadasa said.

 Prof. Piyadasa said there were more essential items that should be imported. The government had a responsibility to spend on important items like medicine, ambulances, tractors, water bowsers and machinery  required for industries.

The government was planning to build a productive economy and some people were pressing for vehicle imports, Prof. Piyadasa said.

The government parliamentary group includes 14 SLFP MP including one National List MP. Of the 13 elected, only one entered on the SLFP ticket whereas others, including the party leader contested on the SLPP ticket.

The government has shelved its supplementary estimate for vehicle imports due to protests. It sought to import more than 220 vehicles and a few ambulances.