The National Audit Office initiated a formal investigation on September 26 regarding all government vehicles, including those allegedly transferred to the President’s Office. This action follows instructions from the President to conduct an inquiry through the Criminal Investigation Department.
Auditor General Chulantha Wickramaratne has dispatched a team of auditors to assess the vehicles parked near the President’s office. The auditors have been directed to separately evaluate vehicles within the ministries and those that belong to the ministries but are not located at their respective offices.
A spokesperson for the office stated that accepting vehicles not belonging to the presidential office from that office, or failing to return vehicles after use as scheduled, would constitute an error.
Previous audit investigations have indicated that many vehicles assigned to the President’s Office and various ministries were being misused.
Former President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake clarified that the vehicles displayed near the President’s office were formally handed over by the relevant officials. He also noted that the President’s Office possesses comprehensive information regarding the officers who utilized those vehicles.
