Do Sri Lankan MPs employ racing drivers?

By Yohan Perera   

It is interesting to note that accidents involving vehicles of MPs have been frequent during this year leaving people to wonder whether some MPs have employed racing drivers. Vehicles of four MPs have met with accidents this month as per media reports.  

The latest one was reported yesterday when the vehicle in which TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran met with an accident in Kilinochchi. An accident reportedly occurred when MP Sumanthiran’s car collided with a motorcycle last evening. Police said that the MP’s car, travelling from Colombo to Jaffna, collided with a motorcycle at the 155 km post in Kilinochchi.  

MP Dilan Perera’s vehicle met with an accident along the Southern Expressway on July 13 while the vehicle of MP Rishad Bathiudeen met with an accident on the same day.   

The vehicle which was carrying MP Tissa Attanayake also met with an accident last week.   

Vehicles of MPs Ali Sabry Rahim and State Minister Sarath Nishantha met with accidents earlier this year bringing the total number to six this year. 

The accident in which the vehicle carrying State Minister Sarath Nishantha was the only fatal one. It was reported that the State Minister’s car was travelling at 106 kmph at the time of the accident.   

Not all MPs are provided with drivers and in such a case are paid an allowance of Rs 3,500.