Minister Milinda Moragoda is reported to have said he will use the hardy and cheaper Indian Ambassador cars rather than the ostentatious Mercedes, BMWs and Volvos.  During the 1994 elections PA leaders scoffed at the UNP Ministers using Mercedes and BMWs and shouted  hoarse they will not use them if they were voted into power.  People took them at their word.  Immediately on assuming power they did not – but they “thought” (?) they were fooling the people by later opting to use the super luxury Swedish Volvos: models chosen by them being much dearer.  Later on, there were hardly any PA ministers who did not use expensive Mercedes and   BMWs.   And when the time for reckoning came the people showed them who taught who – a lesson the present lot must bear in mind.

Ranil’s men have a good opportunity to set an example to the people by using less fancy vehicles.  Of course, the hardy terrain in the interior where politicians are often called upon to travel in their ordinary course of business require tougher vehicles.  This can be done through less expensive Off-road vehicles rather than the super-luxury Pajeros, Monteros, Land Cruisers and other expensive SUVs most of which are sold to car-dealers by most politicians anyway.

Karu Jayasuriya set an example earlier when he was Mayor by not taking his salary and through other austere measures.  Leaders should not merely ask the people to tighten their belts only. They must set an example such as the one the late Indira Gandhi  did during the 1962 war against China, when she gave away to the war effort all her gold jewellery – which saw millions of Indian women following suit.

Perhaps it is time this Government also give instructions to State Corporations not to place costly advertisements of a personal nature involving politicians – using State funds.  Some of these Corporations are financially so badly off they have to borrow money from the Treasury to pay their staff salaries.  There was the instance of a Minister of the PA govt now no more – who escaped a parliamentary Inquiry for bribery against him by a whiff.  This was  followed by at least 2 corporations under him placing full paged coloured press advertisements thanking his gods (for “escaping”?)  Even after the swearing in of this Government there have been a few instances where funds of state bodies are misused in this manner.  This must stop.  Of course, if friends, relatives, beneficiaries and “Pandankarayas” of politicians want their men to know with what affection they remember his birthdays, anniversaries etc. they certainly can pay from their own pockets.  The public is not going to complain.