90 per cent UNP MPs have sold their duty free permits - Jeyaraj

Nadira Gunatilleke and Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: It is revealed that 90 per cent of UNP MPs have sold their car permits and before doing so have obtained bank loans by presenting such vehicle permits, Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said.

Addressing the weekly press briefing held at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Fernandopulle said that they have obtained bank loans each worth around Rs.3.5 million and also sold their car permits for Rs.13.5 million each. Thus they have earned Rs.17 million each.

At the moment some UNP MPs are unable to accept the 50 per cent cut in salaries proposed by the Government because they are repaying heavy bank loans, the Minister pointed out. Referring to the famous enjoinment by Jesus Christ, Minister Fernandopulle said that the Opposition Leader should look at the beam in his own eye instead of trying to remove the mote in the eye of another.

”It is Wickremesinghe who knows the preachings of Jesus Christ best, he added.