• LCs opened in April 22 whereas Cabinet approval sought on May 18  

By Ajith Siriwardana   

Denouncing the moves by the Government to import 227 Prado Jeeps amounting to US$ 18 million at this critical juncture, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday said there was a massive fraud behind this vehicle import. 

JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake making a special statement revealed that the Letter of Credits (LCs) had been opened to import the vehicle fleet on April 22, 2021 whereas the Cabinet approval was sought on May 18, 2021.   

He said the LCs had been opened even without Cabinet approval and said that the whole process behind this move was a deal with the MPs to obtain their votes for the Port City Bill.   

“The LCs were opened on April 22, 2021. Cabinet approval was sought on May 18. However, this Cabinet Paper was rejected at the next Cabinet meeting on May 24. These LCs have been opened without Cabinet approval. It is a deal with the MPs. They opened LCs and later realised that they wanted to get the approval. That is why a cabinet paper was presented a month later with a covering approval for measures taken thus far regarding the vehicle import. This whole process is corrupt,” he said.   
He urged the Government to reveal whether due tender procedure was followed and competitive biddings were called for before the opening the of LCs.   

Mr. Dissanayake said that the government should in the first place stop this move or at least sell the vehicle fleet in public auction and raise funds to be used for some other useful purpose.   

“Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was saying that they cannot stop it now as the Letter of Credits (LCs) have already been opened. We experienced a similar scenario last year after the government banned the import of vehicles. People who had opened LCs had nothing to do. Then, the government advised them not to ship the vehicles and let the LCs expire. Similarly the government can wait until the LCs expire,” he said.   
Mr. Dissanayake said if the government wanted to import the vehicles at any cost, these 227 Prado Jeeps amounting to US$ 18 million should be sold at a public auction here and capitalize on the funds for Covid prevention measures or to pay back government debt.   

“It is unacceptable to import these luxury vehicles when the country is facing an acute dollar crisis and import of all other vehicles and spare parts have been stopped to save dollar reserves. The government is going after other countries, even after Bangladesh, begging for dollars. However, the government is importing luxury vehicles for the wellbeing of the MPs,” he said.