Therefore, on a recommendation by the defence ministry, two vehicles will be purchased for his use, says chief-of-staff of the PM Sagala Ratnayake in the statement.

The statement has been issued in response to JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks in parliament about same.

The premier presently uses two cars and a jeep provided to him by the presidential secretariat, it says.

Maintenance and repair costs for these used vehicles since 09 January last year have been Rs. 9.8 million.

Following his defeat, ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa took with him the best vehicles in the fleet of vehicles at the presidential secretariat.

From that vehicles fleet, president Maithirpala Sirisena, ex-president Chandrika Kumaratunga and PM Wickremesinghe had to obtain what were available.

For the vehicles to be purchased for the PM, Rs. 128 million will be spent to buy two security backup vehicles, while Rs. 486 million will be taxes due for the state.