• Protestors near Police HQ allege Police complicity with leasing companies 
• Note IGP’s silence over 400 forcible seizures over 28 days 

A silent protest was staged outside the Police Headquarters (HQ) in Colombo yesterday (15) against the forceful seizure of vehicles by leasing companies from individuals who have defaulted on the relevant payments, as well as the alleged involvement of the Police in the task and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana D. Wickramaratne’s silence over the matter.

Speaking to the media during the protest, Joint Association of Leasing and Debt Installment Payers Chairman Asanka Ruwan Pothupitiya stated that despite President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s instructions to the contrary, vehicles are still being seized forcefully. He noted that over the past 28 days, over 400 vehicles have been seized. 

“On 17 November, we notified the President that according to the Debt Recovery (Special Provisions) Act, No. 2 of 1990, the Recovery of Loans by Banks (Special Provisions) Act, No. 4 of 1990, and the Finance Leasing Act, No. 56 of 2000, no one has the authority to seize vehicles by force. On 30 November, the President in writing had instructed the IGP to enforce the law of the country correctly. But Superintendents of Police have no knowledge of these laws. 

“The Acts state that if an individual is defaulting on the payment of the lease installments, then a complaint should be lodged against them at the relevant Police station and thereafter, with a Police officer, they can visit the house of the individual and seize the vehicle. However, if the individual objects to the vehicle being seized and asks for a case to be filed in the District Court, then he cannot be threatened to give up the vehicle. So how can these thugs forcefully seize the people’s property? With the Covid-19 pandemic and the fuel crisis, the small and medium scale businesses have been unable to settle the leasing installments and have been stuck.”

Speaking further, he said: “According to Circular No. 1 of 2022, until 31 December, 2022, vehicles cannot be seized as Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe had issued a related circular. But these vehicles have been stolen and sold to friends of these leasing companies, and then cases are filed against these people to pay an additional sum.”

Pothupitiya also added that complaints had been received by the Association against Police officers aiding in this forceful seizure of movable property.

“This a black mark on the entire Police force. Therefore, we ask the IGP to protect the reputation of the Police Department. When a case is filed against these leasing companies, they don’t accept the complaint. On three separate occasions, we notified the IGP in writing that thugs have taken the power into their hands and are dragging the people out and are stealing vehicles. But, for six months, the IGP is silent. We doubt if he is being controlled by some businessmen. If this doesn’t stop by 31 December, a much larger crowd will gather here (the Police HQ).”