Misuse of State Vehicles by Harrison in 100 Day Programme

Former Minister of social services, welfare and livestock development in the 100-day government cum current Minister of livestock and Rural Community  Development,  P. Harrison has misused state-owned vehicles during the period he held  previous  Ministry portfolio,was  revealed in an audit examination.

The audit on 10 August 2015 shows Harrison had used nine vehicles in violation of paragraph 31 of circular CA/1/17/1 of 04 May 2010 that says a minister could use only three vehicles for security.

K.B. Asela Sanjeewa, Ajith Samantha, Ishara Punchihewa and Palitha Herath had been used as drivers for four of the vehicles, while three more had been used without drivers.

Despite a claim that two cars had been given to Milco, Deputy Auditor General A.H.M.L. Ambanwela was told by Milco factory manager W.P. Wijietileke that they had received no such vehicles.

If a ministry has more than three vehicles, the finance ministry’s permission is needed to keep them, but nothing of the sort has taken place in this instance.

Also, Harrison has concealed details of two vehicles when sending a list of vehicles being used by the ministry to the elections commissioner after elections were announced.

Also, he had not made payments pursuant to a cabinet decision that a minister should pay Rs. 100,000 per month if a state vehicle is being used for his election campaign.

He had five vehicles released to his personal staff.

They are KR-5837 to private secretary C.S. Buddhikorale, KH-5712 public relations officer Sujeewa Priyadarshana, KR-3586 coordinating secretary H.A. Prasad Samarajeewa, KH-0515 to media secretary M.M.P.L. Karunaratne and KG-7534 to coordinating secretary Bandula Ranjith.

The then ministry secretary Renuka Ekanayake had reportedly been unaware of this misuse of state vehicles until she was informed by Deputy Auditor General A.H.M.L.Ambanwela following the audit inquiry.