• 89,420 vehicles out of 93,000-strong State vehicle fleet in operational condition
• Much of the fleet over 15 years old

A detailed examination of Sri Lanka’s public service performance and Government financial disclosures has highlighted a structural challenge within the State’s machinery. 

Mobility is a key capability in governance and the Sri Lankan State sector fleet of civilian vehicles seems to be in a dilapidated state, rendering effective State intervention and services challenging due to reliance on them. 

The national vehicle fleet, comprising more than 93,000 vehicles across ministries, Provincial Councils, Police divisions, and specialised agencies, is critically outdated. Nearly half of these vehicles have surpassed their 15-year operational lifespan, raising concerns about operational efficiency, rising maintenance costs, and the ability of State institutions to deliver essential services effectively. 

Simultaneously, the Government is experiencing a record surge in motor vehicle-related tax revenues, particularly excise duties, creating an unusual fiscal opportunity for fleet modernisation. Yet the political and economic justification for recent vehicle procurement decisions has drawn scrutiny from economists, public administration experts, and Opposition parliamentarians.

Fleet management

Responsibility for fleet management remains fragmented within the Government. 

While it was originally assumed that the Ministry of Public Administration maintained responsibility for State assets, Ministry of  Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Secretary S. Aloka Bandara, communicating through the Media Secretary, clarified that fleet management did not fall under his ministry’s purview but was the responsibility of the Presidential Secretariat. 

Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Subhash Gamage stated that information about the existing fleet was maintained by the Comptroller General of Finance and not the Presidential Secretariat.

According to Comptroller General K.A. Ramya Kanthi, as of 30 May 2025, the total Government fleet included 93,378 vehicles, consisting of patrol cars, buses, motorcycles, trucks, trailers, tractors, and specialised equipment such as bowsers and agricultural machinery. The database encompasses both vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) and non-standard operational assets. 

Ramya Kanthi, who provided the Performance Report 2024 of the Comptroller General’s Office, noted that while the majority of vehicles remained operational, the age profile of the fleet was concerning. “Individual institutions assess whether a vehicle is economically unsustainable or mechanically unfit for service, and therefore I do not have the information at this time. We have gathered all the data that we were able to gather using existing resources,” she said. 

The Comptroller General’s Performance Report 2024 provides a critical assessment of the Government’s vehicle fleet, compiled under the Central Database – Vehicles initiative of the Non-Financial Asset Management System (NFAMS). 

As of 30 May 2025, the total vehicle fleet across all public institutions stood at 93,378 units. The report categorises the fleet based on operational status, noting that 89,420 vehicles are in running condition, while 3,958 vehicles are officially classified as not in running condition.

Severe ageing crisis

A primary finding of the report is the severe ageing crisis of these assets. The age analysis reveals that only 7,681 vehicles are relatively modern (0-5 years old), while the majority of the inventory is significantly older. 

The largest segment, a staggering 41,534 vehicles, is categorised as being more than 15 years old, representing nearly 45% of the entire State-owned fleet. This ageing profile is consistent across major categories, which include 15,907 motorcycles, 12,813 cars, and 10,255 dual-purpose vehicles.

The report confirms that this database is comprehensive, encompassing all vehicles owned or used by public institutions, including specialised units like construction industry vehicles and boats, which are not necessarily registered under the DMT. The Comptroller General’s Office has noted that the NFAMS is still in the process of being fully populated by line agencies, which may currently affect the completeness of the data on specific vehicle types, such as buses.

The Comptroller General emphasised the ongoing rollout of the NFAMS, which is designed to provide a centralised digital view of all Government assets. The system has been launched in phases since September 2023. 

Ramya Kanthi said that the effectiveness of the NFAMS was limited by incomplete data submissions. Many ministries and departments are yet to upload their full inventories, reducing the ability of the Government to make evidence-based fleet replacement decisions. “We will be upgrading our systems in time to come, at which point we will be able to gather data more easily,” she said.

Record revenue from vehicle-related taxes

While fleet challenges persist, the Report on Financial Performance of the Government (up to the third quarter ending 30 September 2025), indicates that the Government has recorded exceptional revenue inflows. 

Excise duty collections on motor vehicles reached Rs. 349.26 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2025, a nearly tenfold increase over the Rs. 36.56 billion collected in the same period in 2024. This surge is attributed to higher tariffs, currency fluctuations, and policy adjustments affecting vehicle imports. 

Revenue from the disposal of Government vehicles remains marginal, with the highest recorded collection being Rs. 329.6 million in 2023 and only Rs. 136 million in 2024. Other minor revenue sources, such as the public officers’ motorcycle premium, provide negligible contributions.

Proposal to import 1,775 double cabs

Against this backdrop, the Government announced plans to import 1,775 brand-new four-wheel drive automatic transmission diesel double cab pickup trucks. These vehicles are intended for use by State institutions and Members of Parliament (MPs) on a use-and-return basis.

The tender, floated by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (Bid Number MOF/NCB/23/76/2025), closed on 4 November, with a total estimated cost exceeding Rs. 40.8 billion. The tender was advertised on 23 October. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake indicated in the 2026 Budget speech that, based on the tender opening, a preferred bidder had emerged. 

The Government has justified the procurement on the grounds of obsolescence and rising maintenance costs, citing Rs. 25 billion spent on repairs in 2025. The new vehicles are to support administrative, agricultural, irrigation, and development operations. The plan also replaces the previous duty-free vehicle permit system for MPs.

Criticism from experts

University of Peradeniya (UOP) Department of Economics and Statistics Prof. Ananda Jayawickrama criticised the rationale and timing of the procurement, stating that the Government’s justification was flawed. 

“Upon coming to power, the Government claimed it had enough vehicles, even an excess, and declared it would not purchase any new ones. However, it is now proceeding to buy 1,775 new double cabs, primarily for its own supporters and parliamentarians. It has also expanded the list to include public officers, such as ministry directors,” he said. 

Prof. Jayawickrama questioned whether the Government had conducted a comprehensive survey of the existing fleet. “The plan to purchase 1,775 double cabs seems arbitrary. How will these specifically replace the old fleet? A double cab is not a one-size-fits-all solution. For many official duties, a van capable of carrying more people would be more efficient. The singular focus on double cabs is not properly justified.”

On the economic implications, Prof. Jayawickrama said: “My firm belief is that we do not need this many new vehicles at this time. Our country is still recovering from an economic crisis. Debt sustainability has not been established. Borrowing for extravagant expenditures will increase vulnerability. The Government is currently spending around Rs. 1.2 billion on vehicles. When we start repaying loans, these resources will deplete rapidly, impacting fiscal stability.” 

He also criticised the procurement process itself, noting that the tender appeared to have been expedited. “A proper tender process requires cooperation from multiple suppliers and typically takes more than a month to ensure fairness and value for public money. The speed at which this was closed undermines the integrity of the process.”

Procurement process controversies

Opposition parties, industry observers, and public watchdogs have highlighted several irregularities in the tender process. The National Competitive Bidding process was reduced to only 12 calendar days for submission, compared with the 21-42 days mandated for projects of this scale. 

Qualification criteria – such as a minimum turnover of Rs. 10 billion, experience in supplying 1,000 similar vehicles over 10 years, and ownership of 10 service centres islandwide – were viewed as restrictive and favouring specific companies.

The high cost and diesel specification of the vehicles have also been questioned. Prices range from Rs. 23 million to Rs. 24.7 million per unit. Critics argue that locally assembled or electric vehicles would be more cost-effective over the long term. 

MPs from Opposition parties, including Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, have publicly announced they will reject the allocation of these double cabs, highlighting broader concerns regarding transparency, fairness, and fiscal responsibility.

Balancing operational needs and fiscal prudence

Comptroller General Ramya Kanthi emphasised the need for systematic asset management. She noted that NFAMS was intended to centralise oversight but stressed that its effectiveness depended on full participation from institutions. 

Ramya Kanthi also acknowledged the absence of a centralised database for identifying condemned vehicles, leaving retirement and replacement decisions to individual ministries.

Prof. Jayawickrama echoed these concerns, emphasising that fleet modernisation must be evidence-based. “Without a detailed assessment of which vehicles are operationally unfit, there is no justification for large-scale procurement. Age alone does not determine usability. Many vehicles over 10-15 years old are still functional. Procurement should be driven by operational need, not convenience or political considerations,” he concluded.

The controversy surrounding the importation of 1,775 double cabs illustrates the tension between operational necessity, fiscal prudence, and political considerations. How the Government navigates these decisions will have lasting consequences for public service efficiency, fiscal stability, and accountability in the management of national assets.