VEHICLES FOR SUITABLE PEOPLE

 The Yahapaalana government has brazenly sought Parliamentary approval to purchase super luxury  vehicles for  various cabinet and state ministers to the tune of Rs. 1.1 billion.  This act of the government, in the face of a disastrous situation in the country with thousands of people becoming homeless and without means of livelihood due to massive floods, explosions of army weapons store, etc. , is, to say the least, preposterous.

Adding insult to injury were the remarks made by government ministers during a media conference trying to justify the reasons as to why they need such super luxury vehicles, ostensibly to “serve the people” in a super fast manner by travelling the length and breadth of the country, which to say the least, is laughable.

This sort of extravagance is definitely not what the 62 million people who voted for a “change” expected, especially when one considers the accusations of waste and luxury living against the previous administration which were being repeatedly drummed into the ears of the voters prior to the elections. 

Also, when Minister Senaratne said that politicians in other countries draw five to ten times of salaries drawn by local politicians, he has conveniently  missed the point about the earnings of the ordinary folk in Sri Lanka which cannot be compared with any other country.  The undeniable fact is that without going in for rhetoric, these ministers should stop and think for a while whether the current economic situation of the country is conducive for such extravagant and wasteful expenditure just to maintain the “standards” of ministers.

It is hoped that even at this late stage, saner counsel will prevail and the President will put a halt to such unnecessary expenditure at least until the country recovers from its current crisis situation.

Another point which comes to mind on this subject are the remarks made by Minister John Ameratunge to some journalists that the government had to increase the duty and taxes on vehicle imports to ensure that only “suitable” people acquire vehicles.  So, are we now to assume that politicians are the only “suitable” people to have new vehicles and that too, at the expense of the poor public.