(Lanka-e-News -21.Oct.2024, 4.40 pm) The government has announced that no official privileges previously enjoyed by former Presidents have been revoked.
In a statement issued under the signature of the Government’s Director General of Information, H.S.K. Jay Bandara, it was clarified that under the “Presidential Privileges Act No. 04 of 1986” issued on February 18, 1986, letters have been sent instructing former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesinghe to return the extra vehicles they are currently using.
According to section 3(2) of the aforementioned Act, “Every former president and every widow of a former president must be provided with official transport and other facilities equal to those provided to a sitting Cabinet Minister.” Additionally, a circular issued on May 14, 2010, under the signature of then Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, states under clause 3.1 that “The maximum number of official vehicles (cars, jeeps, double cabs) allocated for use and security by Ministers and Deputy Ministers is three.” As per these guidelines, actions have been taken accordingly.
Of the 16 vehicles previously in the custody of Mahinda Rajapaksa, 8 have already been returned, while 11 vehicles are still with Ranil Wickremesinghe.
This clearly shows that a former President is legally entitled to only three vehicles.
“Don’t complain! Nothing will be given!” - President Anura
Speaking at a rally held today in Tangalle, marking the start of the parliamentary election campaign, President Anura Dissanayake made the government’s position clear on this matter:
“We won’t allow the waste of billions of the public’s money. Two former Presidents were given 16 vehicles each, including an ambulance. These two Presidents have two ambulances. We instructed that all of them be returned immediately. According to the current circular, only three vehicles are entitled. We will provide those vehicles. However, we have already appointed a committee to amend the circular, and the government will stop providing any more benefits to former Presidents. Don’t complain. Don’t panic. If anyone has a genuine threat to their security, we will provide security. But no one will be allowed to waste the public’s property under the guise of ‘security.’
The most recent former President sent us a letter requesting 16 cooks, 163 security personnel, 20 vehicles, and 30 umbrellas. Should we give them all? No, we won’t. Keep that in mind. They’ve lived a wasteful life with the public’s wealth, and now they believe it’s a right. They’ve used and used these privileges and now think they are entitled to them. It’s not a right. Is it right to keep an ambulance at home? No, we won’t allow it. We won’t give in. Keep that in mind. Don’t issue false statements claiming there’s a security threat. No, this isn’t a security issue. This is an attempt to waste the public’s property as if it were their own. The people of this country have given us a mandate to stop that. Acting according to that mandate is what the National People’s Power government is doing.”
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by (2024-10-21 11:14:52)
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