The Cabinet of Ministers announced that while all Parliamentarians will be provided with a vehicle, they will however not be given duty-free car permits.

“Having a vehicle is essential to fulfilling a role,” Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told the media yesterday (26). “However, we will not be awarding any car permits to anyone.”

These comments come following the National People’s Power (NPP) party pledge that if elected, their Government will not obtain vehicle permits. During his Presidential campaign, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the NPP would request the list of names of MPs who have requested vehicle permits.

Further, the Cabinet announced that security to MPs will be limited to those that are deemed necessary through a threat assessment. “If these MPs need security, they need to have a threat assessment done,” Dr. Jayatissa said. “Even Cabinet Ministers cannot have unnecessary security details and we will not provide any additional security that is not essential.”

This follows the recalling of all Police personnel assigned to provide security for former MPs except for those who were serving the former Speaker of the Parliament, the former Deputy Speaker and the former Opposition Leader, in September.