Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has imported vehicles for the finance ministry, flouting the ban imposed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when the country was facing a severe economic crisis.
The National Audit Office has revealed that letters of credit amounting to Rs 1140 million had been opened through a state bank for the purpose. The audit office also said that full payment had been made for the transaction.
When these vehicles were imported in October 2021, Basil Rajapaksa had already assumed duties as the finance minister of the country.
According to the letter issued by the Ministry of Finance dated March 18, 2021, issued by Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, the bank has opened eight letters of credit for the import of 225 sports utility vehicles, 50 double cabs, 50 high-roof ambulances, and 50 water bowsers for the Ministry of Finance.
These letters of credit were issued on April 21, 2021. Later, according to a request received by the Ministry of Finance, three letters of credit opened for the import of 225 brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicles were cancelled.
Also, the audit report states that the proposed annual interest rate for financing leases of imported vehicles stood at 7.5 percent, which is lower than the market interest rate.
The audit has revealed that 35 water bowsers and four double cabs that were imported have not been distributed.
The audit report also states that these vehicles were not registered due to the lack of a pre-specified requirement for the import of vehicles or a plan to distribute them among the interested parties.
The relevant state bank has mentioned to the auditors that all the letters of credit have been opened with the approval of the Import and Export Controller.
