lkdood
08-10-2008, 07:17 AM
WANT TO BE ON LTTE 'HIT LISTS'
SOME WANT CARS FOR SECRETARIES ETC.., By Lasantha Weerakulasuriya
Ministers are battling over the bulletproof cars which were imported to transport SARRC dignitaries who attended the 15 SAARC summit in Colombo from August 2nd to 3rd.
Political sources said that there are 31 such bulletproof cars and over 100 other jeeps and cars which were imported —- spending millions to transport SAARC VVIPs. Sources said that some Ministers who are close to high ranking Police officers had requested their names be included in intelligence reports in order to qualify for luxury bulletproof cars.
Knowing all these maneuvering and infighting for cars, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed allocation of bulletproof cars strictly to Ministers who are in fact on the LTTE hit list.
Some Ministers really on the LTTE hit list had requested two cars —- citing security threats.
In addition to bulletproof cars, Ministers are also canvassing for jeeps and ordinary cars imported for the SAARC summit and other vehicles for their secretaries.
Intelligence sources have identified 25 Ministers whose lives have been threatened by the LTTE. Of the 31 bullet proof cars, President and the Prime Minister too will retain some and the balance will be distributed among Ministers.
National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will also be given a car each.
Some of the other Ministers who will get cars are Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Ranjith Siyabalapitiya, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rishard Badurdeen and Milinda Moragoda. Sources said that 12 cars were imported at US$ 1.8 million, 15 others at US$ 3.7 million and four others at US$ 13.23 million.
These cars have been imported from many countries such as United Kingdom, India, Germany and Czech Republic.
When asked about duty waivers in Parliament before the SAARC summit, the Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardana declined to comment as the formalities have not been completed.
He also declined to divulge the make of the cars and other details citing security reasons.
lakbimanews (http://www.lakbimanews.lk/)
SOME WANT CARS FOR SECRETARIES ETC.., By Lasantha Weerakulasuriya
Ministers are battling over the bulletproof cars which were imported to transport SARRC dignitaries who attended the 15 SAARC summit in Colombo from August 2nd to 3rd.
Political sources said that there are 31 such bulletproof cars and over 100 other jeeps and cars which were imported —- spending millions to transport SAARC VVIPs. Sources said that some Ministers who are close to high ranking Police officers had requested their names be included in intelligence reports in order to qualify for luxury bulletproof cars.
Knowing all these maneuvering and infighting for cars, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed allocation of bulletproof cars strictly to Ministers who are in fact on the LTTE hit list.
Some Ministers really on the LTTE hit list had requested two cars —- citing security threats.
In addition to bulletproof cars, Ministers are also canvassing for jeeps and ordinary cars imported for the SAARC summit and other vehicles for their secretaries.
Intelligence sources have identified 25 Ministers whose lives have been threatened by the LTTE. Of the 31 bullet proof cars, President and the Prime Minister too will retain some and the balance will be distributed among Ministers.
National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will also be given a car each.
Some of the other Ministers who will get cars are Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Ranjith Siyabalapitiya, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Rishard Badurdeen and Milinda Moragoda. Sources said that 12 cars were imported at US$ 1.8 million, 15 others at US$ 3.7 million and four others at US$ 13.23 million.
These cars have been imported from many countries such as United Kingdom, India, Germany and Czech Republic.
When asked about duty waivers in Parliament before the SAARC summit, the Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardana declined to comment as the formalities have not been completed.
He also declined to divulge the make of the cars and other details citing security reasons.
lakbimanews (http://www.lakbimanews.lk/)