03 August, 2007 - Published 14:26 GMT

Monk MP's car in Ranil's office

The main opposition in Sri Lanka has accused Buddhist-monk led political party of abducting a person and illegally selling tax-free motor vehicles.

United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Tissa Attanayake told BBC Sandeshaya that security guards of a powerful minister has abducted the person who bought a luxury car from a parliamentarian monk.

UNP leader Ranil Wickramsinghe has borrowed the Mercedes Benz car from Nishantha Hematha who bought it from Ellawala Medhananada thero, he added.

Minister's security guards

The head of Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Medhananda thero has illegally sold the luxury car, Attanayake told BBCSinhala.com.

He also accused security personnel of a minister of trying to take the vehicle back from the Leader of the Opposition.

Environmental Affairs minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka, is the only JHU parliamentarian who holds a cabinet portfolio in Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Sri Lanka's parliamentarians are allowed to import luxury cars without paying tax, but it is an offence to sell them before five years.

No JHU response

The JHU monk-parliamentarians, who were elected in April 2004, are accused by the UNP of cashing in by illegally selling their cars.

JHU spokesmen have told media that the party collected money by handing over the cars to party supporters without selling them.

BBC Sandeshaya could not contact Medhananda thero or Minister Ranawaka despite repeated attempts.