Government to lose more money, more duty free vehicle permits to be issued
- Monday, 09 December 2013
The Mahinda Rajapaksa government is to deprive the Treasury of millions of rupees by issuing hundreds of duty free vehicle permits to import luxury vehicles.
The duty free vehicle permits are to be issued to import luxury vehicles to operate a luxury taxi service at the Katunayake and Mattala international airports.
Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne has said that the government is to launch a luxury taxi service at the two airports.
He has said that the government would initially offer up to 600 permits to import BMW 7 Series, Benz cars, Jaguars, Chryslers and other luxury vehicles mainly to be used by the visiting business community and VIPs.
He has said that the government would initially offer up to 600 permits to import BMW 7 Series, Benz cars, Jaguars, Chryslers and other luxury vehicles mainly to be used by the visiting business community and VIPs.
“We have found that other countries which attract investors provide the facility of a luxury taxi service. With more investors expected here, we have decided to launch the service from next month. “Businessmen who came here to attend the Business Forum during the Commonwealth summit made inquiries about the availability of luxury taxi services, but we had none,” Jayaratna has been quoted in the local media as saying.
The Civil Aviation Ministry is to provide land close to the two international airports to the taxi service operator or operators on a lease agreement.
The Civil Aviation Ministry is to provide land close to the two international airports to the taxi service operator or operators on a lease agreement.
Ministers to be given luxury cars imported for CHOGM - GL
- Monday, 09 December 2013
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris has said that the luxury cars imported for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be given to ministers.
He has noted at a Forum organized by the Organization of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka that the government had decided to give the vehicles to ministries once they were used for CHOGM.
However, ministers are now involved in a tussle to get for themselves the luxury vehicles used by heads of states during CHOGM.
While denying the figure of Rs. 15.8 billion as the government’s expense for CHOGM, the Minister has asked how to host an international event without spending money.
While denying the figure of Rs. 15.8 billion as the government’s expense for CHOGM, the Minister has asked how to host an international event without spending money.
