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With vehicle imports back in the news and every rupee of state spending under scrutiny, a claim that the government was quietly buying new bulletproof luxury cars for the President and Prime Minister, using public tax money, was always going to travel. It spread across Facebook and other platforms. We investigated. Here is what we found.
Social Media Posts
Fact Check
We checked whether any mainstream outlet had reported the import of bulletproof vehicles for the President and Prime Minister. No such news exists.
No Cabinet Approval or Tender Exists
Any such purchase would require Cabinet approval and an open procurement (tender) process. We examined all recently released official government documents and found no tender details or Cabinet paper for such vehicles. We also checked the Cabinet Office website and confirmed there is no such approval among current Cabinet decisions.
The Ministry of Finance Denied the Claim
The Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office cannot import vehicles with public money at will; official allocations from the Ministry of Finance would be required. We contacted the Ministry’s Media Secretary, who confirmed that the claim is completely false and baseless.
The Presidential and Prime Minister’s Media Divisions Confirmed It Is False
Both the Presidential Media Division and the Prime Minister’s Media Division confirmed that the information is false and that no such decision has been made.
Current Policy Points the Other Way
In recent months the government has moved to cut spending, not raise it. It has auctioned vehicles owned by the Presidential Secretariat through open tenders and auctioned high-maintenance luxury vehicles such as V8s owned by state institutions. Amid the situation in the Middle East, it has also imposed a temporary 50% customs duty surcharge on vehicle imports. Against this backdrop, the government has imported no new vehicles.
Although the government relaxed general import restrictions after coming to power, allowing the public and businesses to import vehicles, it has neither ordered specialised luxury or bulletproof vehicles for state leaders nor ordered and then cancelled any such vehicles. Presenting the 2026 Budget, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said no duty-free vehicle permits would be issued to MPs in future; instead of transferring ownership, MPs would receive government-owned vehicles only during their term, to be returned afterwards. To reduce waste, luxury vehicles such as V8s and Monteros will no longer be provided to MPs and state institutions; fuel-efficient and surplus double-cab vehicles have been allocated instead.
Bulletproof Vehicles of Former Presidents Are Being Returned
Under current policy, rather than importing new vehicles, the government has taken back bulletproof and security vehicles previously used by former leaders. For example, the bulletproof vehicle used by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa was returned to the Presidential Secretariat as part of the drive to reduce public expenditure.
The President Uses a Previously-Owned Government Vehicle
After Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office, a government-owned, previously used bulletproof vehicle was assigned to him on the recommendation of state security authorities.
The Prime Minister Declined the Luxury Vehicles
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has refused the high-maintenance bulletproof luxury vehicles assigned to her. By using a regular security vehicle instead, she has reportedly saved the government and the public Rs. 37 million.
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Conclusion
Based on these findings, the claim that the government is preparing to import bulletproof vehicles for the President or Prime Minister is completely false. The Ministry of Finance and the Presidential and Prime Minister’s Media Divisions have officially denied it.
There is no Cabinet decision or procurement document indicating that any such import is taking place.
Title: No, the Government Is Not Importing New Bulletproof Vehicles for the President and PM
Fact Check By: Pavithra Sandamali
Result: False
