Former Finance Minister and NDF MP Ravi Karunanayake accuses the government of engaging in a wasteful and irregular procurement process in its plan to purchase 1,775 double cab vehicles at a cost of Rs. 42.8 billion.
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on Wednesday (29), Karunanayake charged that the acquisition was being carried out “outside the prescribed international tender process,” with the tender period shortened to just 12 days instead of the required 42.
He said that stringent eligibility requirements such as a minimum annual turnover of Rs. 10 billion and countrywide service capacity meant that only one bidder qualified, raising doubts over the transparency of the process.
He questioned the rationale behind importing the vehicles when local manufacturers could supply them at a significantly lower cost. “If purchased locally, each vehicle would cost Rs. 16.5 million, compared to Rs. 24.5 million if imported,” Karunanayake said, warning that the move represented a “serious misuse of foreign exchange.”
Arguing that the decision reflected misplaced priorities amid economic hardship, the former minister urged the government to consider electric vehicles instead. He claimed that a switch to electric options could save the country around Rs. 8 billion in fuel costs annually, amounting to Rs. 40 billion over five years, funds that could finance major infrastructure projects such as another Mahaweli development.
“Why continue to import fuel-powered vehicles when electric alternatives are available?” he asked, suggesting that savings could be used to develop a nationwide charging network.
Karunanayake recalled that three months ago, the government’s initial plan was to procure 2,000 vehicles, including allocations for MPs, but the figure was later reduced to 1,775 after his objections.
Highlighting what he called “bloated state ownership,” the MP revealed that Sri Lanka currently operates 87,000 government vehicles, compared to just 7,800 in Australia, a developed nation.
He concluded by calling on the authorities to “rethink wasteful expenditure” and adopt sustainable, cost-effective approaches to public sector mobility.