Sri Lanka’s ministers to pay for govt vehicles and fuel if used for election campaign

July 16, 2015 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government asked Prime Minister, the Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and the officials to pay a fee for using their official vehicles to promote their political party or candidature in upcoming general election.

The decision was made at a meeting held between the Commissioner of Elections and the General Secretaries of the Political Parties and has been given cabinet approval , cabinet spokesman told reporter on Thursday.

The Commissioner of Elections had proposed that the Cabinet of Ministers should decide on the amount to be charged in connection with the use of vehicles in this regard.

Accordingly, the finance minister had proposed a payment of 100,000 rupees per month for each vehicle used by the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Ministers of the Provinces, the Deputy Speaker of the House, the Ministers, State Ministers, Deputy Ministers and those who use vehicles provided by the government or by the provincial councils as a privilege to the posts being held by them for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

The cost of fuel should also be borne by them personally when the vehicles allocated to them are being used for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

All costs relating to the use of aircrafts or helicopters should also be borne by them personally when the aircrafts or helicopters are being used for the promotion of their Party/Candidature.

Payments for the use of vehicles should be made to their relevant Ministries/ Provincial Councils and relevant authorities, the spokesman said.

Payments relating to the use of aircrafts or helicopters should be made to the relevant institutions.