The Presidential Secretariat has announced plans to deploy the vehicles currently parked near the Presidential Secretariat for essential services. This decision comes as part of the ongoing efforts to streamline resources and ensure that they are used effectively during the current administration.

In its announcement, the office clarified: “that the vehicles returned by former Government officials are not part of the fleet assigned to the permanent staff of the Presidential Secretariat. Instead, these vehicles were assigned to the personal staff of the former President, as stipulated under Article 41(1) of the Constitution, during his tenure”.

The Presidential Secretariat further explained:” that the vehicles are parked outside the premises due to a lack of sufficient space within the Secretariat itself. The parking of these vehicles is not intended for display or propaganda purposes. This clarification aims to dispel any misconceptions regarding the status of the vehicles”.

With the appointment of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, over 100 vehicles (107) have been handed over to the Presidential Secretariat. These vehicles are currently parked outside the premises under Police protection. This temporary arrangement follows a notification issued in recent days regarding the status of these vehicles.

The decision to return the vehicles has drawn criticism from various parties. Many argue that this practice is common during transitions between administrations. Critics of the previous regime have condemned the use of expensive vehicles for unnecessary purposes, suggesting that resources could be better allocated to serve the public.