Government ministers race to get CHOGM Benzs

Wednesday, 27 November 2013 

Ministers in President Mahinda Rajapaksa government it is learnt are now trying to scurry favour with the President and his advisors to ensure that they will be allocated once of the 54 luxury Benz S400 vehicles that were imported to the country for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The 54 Benz cars were brought down by the Finance Ministry despite claims by some government ministers that the cars were taken on rent from private companies and would be returned to the respective companies.

However, it is learnt that the government is looking t distributing the 54 cars among the key Rajapaksa loyalists after a few weeks.

Government to now waste more public funds at Carlton Night Races

Wednesday, 27 November 2013 

The government it seems is keen on finding ways to waste public money. After spending billions of public funds to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which was attended only by 21 out of 54 heads of Commonwealth nations, the government mechanism is now working towards holding night motor races in Colombo next month.

The night motor races are organized by the Carlton Motor Sports Club headed by the President’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa.
The President’s youngest son, Rohitha Rajapaksa participates in the races while eldest son, Namal Rajapaksa plays host to the VIPs and gets down Indian film stars and models for the event.

In short, the Carlton night races are for the Rajapaksa sons to race and enjoy with their friends in Colombo.

The night races also gobble millions of public funds.

The event does not pay any taxes due to the Colombo Municipal Council, cars for the races are brought down without paying taxes and all structures necessary for the races are put up by Sri Lanka Army soldiers.

The CMC lost Rs. 2.9 million from the Colombo Night Races last year after Western Province Chief Minister Prassana Ranathunga gave instructions for the CMC not to charge a tax on the tickets sold for the event.

Under local laws when such an event or carnival is staged in the Colombo Municipal Council limits a tax is imposed on each ticket sold.

The Carlton Motor Sports Club also deprived the Treasury of receiving over Rs. 200 million in the form of vehicle import duties in the importation of 19 vehicles for last year’s Colombo Night Races.