By Saman Indrajith

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Ratnayake yesterday called on Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne to look into the possibility of taking action against the former Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa, and former Deputy Chairman of Committees Angajan Ramanathan for alleged excessive use of vehicles and fuel during their tenures.

Ratnayake said that following his exposure on 23 February, regarding the cost of fuel, vehicle use, electricity and water bills of former Speaker Abeywardena, the latter had issued a statement denying the matters exposed.

“As such, I believe it is my duty to further clarify the situation. In February 2023, I tabled some documents to support my claims. Today, I am tabling documents certified by the Director of Finance of Parliament, G. Sarath Kumara, detailing the costs incurred by Abeywardena, Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa, and former Deputy Chairman of Committees Ramanathan during the years 2022, 2023, and the first nine months of 2024,” Ratnayake said.

“For the first nine months of 2024, from 01 January to 30 September, former Speaker Abeywardena used nine vehicles and spent Rs. 34 million on fuel. Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa used six vehicles and spent Rs. 13 million on fuel, while former Deputy Chairman of Committees Ramanathan used four vehicles, incurring a cost of Rs. 7.2 million on fuel.

“For the 12 months from 01 January, 2023, to 31 December, 2023, Abeywardena used eight vehicles and spent Rs. 26 million on fuel. Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa used six vehicles and spent Rs. 14 million on fuel, while DCC Ramanathan used four vehicles and spent Rs. 7.8 million on fuel.

“This is the people’s money, and we must be accountable to the people. We are obligated to give an account to the people.

“Today, I also table some documents on the use of electricity, water, and food by Abeywardena during these years to be included in the Hansard.

“The documents I am tabling today have been certified by the Finance Director of Parliament. I request the Speaker to call for an audit or investigate the possibility of acting against these individuals,” Ratnayake said.

The top management of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) has claimed that they didn’t have relevant information when the Committee of Public Accounts (COPA) recently questioned them regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place, prior to the integration with the Customs computer system.

Having rapped the DMT for failing to address specific concerns raised by the Auditor General with regard to such registrations, COPA declared that they would be called again. They were asked to come prepared, according a statement issued by Parliament yesterday.

The DMT management appeared before COPA on 10 March. MP Aravinda Senarath chaired the meeting, called to discuss the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, as well as the Department’s current performance.

During the meeting, the Committee inquired into the implementation of directives issued during previous meetings. In particular, the Auditor General had presented 25 observations regarding illegal vehicle registrations that had taken place prior to the integration with the Customs computer system. The Committee expected a report detailing the investigations conducted on these matters and the disciplinary actions taken against the responsible officials. However, the Auditor General pointed out that such a report had not been submitted.

Although the officials present claimed that a report had been provided, the Auditor General stated that he had not received it. A copy of the purported report was tabled during the session, but upon examination, the Auditor General informed the Committee that it was entirely unsatisfactory. As a result, the Committee conducted an extensive inquiry into the matter, but the officials failed to provide satisfactory responses. They stated that they did not possess the relevant information dating back.

The government is considering whether it can utilise money collected in the tills of temples and devales for the development of the country.

The possibility of using till collections for development work was discussed during the inaugural Ministerial Consultative Committee on Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs for the Tenth Parliament, according to parliamentary sources.

Chairman of the Committee, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, informed the meeting that the temporary ‘Basnayaka Nilame’ appointed to the Sabaragamuwa Maha Saman Devalaya had disclosed that the temple’s income from offerings over the course of a month amounted to Rs. 6.2 million and therefore the possibility of using such funds for the country’s development should be reconsidered.