Colombo, June 1 – The Api Purawasiya organization has blown the lid off what they allege is a secretive auction scam involving 22 luxury government vehicles from the North Central Provincial Council, accusing officials of selling state-owned assets at rock-bottom prices without public disclosure.
According to Priyantha Priyandha Fernando, convener of Api Purawasiya and President of the Lanka Teachers’ Union, 12 high-end vehicles, including a BMW and three Toyota Prados, were sold for just Rs. 28 million, a figure he claims is drastically below market value.
“The BMW used by the former Governor, a 2014 model worth over Rs. 35 million, was sold for under Rs. 5 million,” Fernando said. “The Prados alone should have fetched over Rs. 2 million each — yet they were auctioned off for less.”
The vehicles in question were previously used by former Governors and Chief Ministers, making them part of the elite transport fleet maintained with public funds. Fernando argues that based on fair market value, the government could have earned over Rs. 100 million, but instead, the vehicles were practically given away in a backdoor deal.
Among the sold fleet were:
- 1 BMW (2014)
- 3 Toyota Prados
- 1 Land Rover Defender
- Several Mitsubishi Pajero SUVs
The auction was allegedly conducted quietly in April, with little public notice and questionable pricing strategies.
Fernando alleges the remaining 10 unsold vehicles are also being prepped for similar treatment undervalued and disposed of in a non-transparent manner.
“This isn’t just mismanagement, it’s state-sponsored theft,” Fernando said. “It’s a racket carried out under the guise of official procedure.”
In response, a spokesperson for the North Central Provincial Council acknowledged the April auction but denied any wrongdoing. They claimed that most vehicles were auctioned above their initial valuations and insisted only one was sold below the assessed price. However, they declined to confirm the exact revenue collected.
As calls grow for accountability, civil society groups are demanding an independent probe into the sale and urging the Auditor General’s Department to intervene and audit the auction process.
