MPs sell duty free permits to find money spent for voting system says Bandula
Joint Opposition spokesperson Bandula Gunawardena says Parliamentarians have the right to sell their duty free permits for vehicles. He said Parliamentarians spend a lot of money due to the preferential voting system and selling car permits would raise required funds.
Mr. Gunawardene speaking to an English daily newspaper said Parliamentarians had the privilege of transferring duty free vehicle permits since JR Jayewardene’s presidency and strongly defended the transfer of vehicle permits on the basis the practice wasn’t against the law.
Parliamentarians receive massive tax exemptions amounting to Rs 33.5 million on each permit and it is alleged that a group of 20 parliamentarians, several members of the Joint Opposition among them, had already transferred ownership.
