A tense situation was reported near the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo today when a group of Police officials confronted individuals protesting against the government’s alleged move to provide vehicle permits for Parliamentarians.
Video footage shows the Police officials forcibly removing a banner held by the protesters and attempting to escort them to the Colpetty Police Station, while a senior Police official was also seen engaging in a verbal argument with one protester.
A tense situation was reported when the protesting individuals refused to visit the Police Station and questioned the grounds under which the Police officials were taking action against them.
The protestors have, however, managed to hand over a letter to the President’s Additional Secretary, Kapila Munasinghe, expressing their discontent over the government’s decision.
The protest was staged by members of the “Citizen Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste” organization against the government’s decision to restore vehicle vehicle permits to MPs.
The government is yet to comment on whether or not such a decision has been taken on providing vehicle permits to MPs, despite various media reports.
Recent media reports claimed that the Parliamentary Committee which looks into the requirements of MPs, approved a request by them for vehicle permits in line with the similar facilities offered to executive graders in different categories of the public service.
The MPs, numbering more than 100 and representing different parties, have reportedly submitted a letter to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena asking for permission to import vehicles with no duty for their use.
The move comes as the MPs elected to the current Parliament at the 2020 general election did not get the customary benefit due to the economic crisis and the ban on vehicle imports. (Newswire)
