Rajapaksha has most number of bullet proof cars in Asia – Former Minister

(September 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Rajapaksha Government who is now the leader of SLFP (M), breakway group of the ruling alliance ,Mangala Samaraweera addressing a Press briefing at the party Headquarters , yesterday (29) said , the Secretaries of Ministries , the Chairmen of Corporations and stooges in order to display their power and ‘ boru show’ are using the security details as a status symbol. The President alone is having over a thousand staff in his security detail while the largest Cabinet in the world of 112 Ministers also are having massive security fleets , he added .

What’s more ? even the relatives , friends and spouses of Ministers are enjoying security protection and a number of official vehicles . If the President fancies , he distributes vehicles as though they of his private fleet , he pinpointed. All these stooges , hangers on and cronies have taken all these luxuries and security at state expense , not for security reasons , but for obscene ostentation . They want to show they are ‘President’s men’ who not only enjoy his patronage but also have a fleet like his for pompous reasons.

Nero was fiddling when Rome was burning . Here, Hero is diddling when people are starving .

Former Foreign secretary , Kohona even to have a dinner goes out with a security contingent of 200 personnel . All these acts were not because they needed such security detail, it was to show to the world they are ‘great men’ among the poor masses who do not have even a square meal a day. It is high time the Govt. stops these ‘circuses’ and thinks of the people , at least now, after the war is over, he exhorted. Is it to increase the commission collections that the Govt. is going on importing vehicles under one pretext or another ? 5 Bullet proof vehicles each costing Rs. 100 million have been imported for the President. Believe it or not , as of now , it is in SL there is the highest number of security vehicles in Asia , he pinpointed.

He said ,he has witnessed General and Presidential elections during the last 20 years , and has faced 17 elections himself, but , there has never been a more fraud ridden and election law violating elections as the forthcoming Southern PC elections . State vehicles , buildings and employees are being used for pro Govt. election campaigns while violence is raging on the other side. The election laws are flagrantly violated like nobody’s business. . 600 Ports Authority staff and 78 vehicles are engaged in illegal activities working for the elections in the campaigns of the Govt. candidates , he bemoaned.

-Sri Lanka Guardian