By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, May 20 (Daily Mirror) – Two companies loyal to the National People’s Power (NPP) government have opened Letters of Credit (LCs) to import 4,000 vehicles on May 15, a day before the government imposed a 50 percent surcharge on vehicle imports, Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP S.M. Marikkar alleged today.

He told Parliament that one particular company has opened 3,500 LCs while the other has opened 500 LCs.

The MP urged the government to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Finance Dr. Anil Jayantha, who refuted the allegation said only 1,782 vehicles had been imported to the country on May 15.

He said official documents prove that only 1,782 vehicles had been imported on May 15 and that the MPs are trying to mislead the people.

The Deputy Minister said no insider information had been leaked about the surcharge and that the allegation is false.