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JVP to utilise funds from luxury cars to revamp tanks
The JVP is expecting to receive Rs. 100 million from the Presidential funds as a goodwill gesture in response to the returning of some of the luxury vehicles used by Ministers of the former UNF government.

The JVP hopes to use this money to repair, develop and maintain irrigation tanks and schemes. A JVP spokesman said the party will seek a personal assurance from President Chandrika Kumaratunga regarding the allocation of funds in exchange of the vehicles.

The vehicles belonging to the Agriculture Ministry were handed over this week to the President's office. "It does not concern us what the President plans to do with the vehicles. Our purpose in returning the vehicles was to give back their monetary worth to the public.

All we are concerned about is that a total of at least Rs. 100 million would be given to us to be used for our plan of re building 1000 water tanks within this year for the benefit of rural farmers", Agriculture Ministry media secretary Prasanna Adhikari said, speaking on behalf of Minister Anura Dissanayake.

Eleven vehicles some of them purchased at more than Rs. 3,000,000 were among those handed over to the President's office. "We have no proper estimates as to the total value of these luxury vehicles as most of the vehicles do not have the required documentation", Mr. Adhikari said, adding that a meeting would be sought with President Kumaratunge to discuss the matter.

"We have not made a personal request to the President with regard to these vehicles but we have made an open statement", he said. The vehicles which were returned include a Volvo, Double cabs, Benz cars, land cruisers and bullet proof vehicles with an average estimate for each vehicle of around nine million.

The JVP charged that the former UNF government had nine Ministers relating to agriculture and irrigation using 81 vehicles.

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