31 BULLET-PROOF VEHICLES FOR vips
Spends staggering 8.6 mn USD,
but declines to name users
By Kelum Bandara
and Yohan Perera
The government has imported 31 bullet proof vehicles for the use of parliamentarians at a cost of 8.6 million US dollars, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena told parliament yesterday.
Mr Gunawardena made the disclosure responding to a question by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.
He said 15 of these vehicles had been bought for 3.7 million Euros inclusive of duty, 12 for 1.8 million US dollars, and four for 1.3 million US dollars.
The government, however, declined to reveal the names of those who were using these bullet proof vehicles citing security reasons. The Chief government Whip said proper tender procedures had been followed before importing the vehicles.
These vehicles were purchased from Guana International, Ltd, England, M/s Nanigure International GMBH, Germany, M/s Daimler Chrysler AG Stvttgurt, Germany, Global Fleet Sales Co Ltd, Thailand, Svos Spol Syo, Czech Republic and Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, India. Gunawardena said the government had taken all possible steps to ensure the security of opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe when Mr. Karunanayake asked whether at least one of those bullet proof vehicles had been provided to Mr. Wickremesinghe.
While thanking the government for providing security, Mr. Wickremasinghe charged that his security officials were being questioned over anonymous petitions sent against them.
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