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Customs only holding vehicles if under probe 

12 Oct 2022

  • Others disposed by auctioning, although lack of bids noted 
BY Dinitha Rathnayake  In a context where illegally imported luxury sports utility vehicles are being found at the Customs despite a total import ban on vehicles, the Sri Lanka Customs stated that it only keeps in its custody vehicles that pertain to ongoing investigations, while the others are auctioned off, The Morning learnt. Speaking to The Morning, Customs Spokesman Sudattha Silva said that while the majority of such vehicles are sent for disposal through auctioning, there are however no bids for such. “We are trying our best to conduct the investigations as fast as we can, but there is no way of determining the time period. It all depends on the circumstances.” According to Silva, certain matters have to be solved by writing to foreign countries and after obtaining solid evidence. “We also cannot destroy the vehicles, since we need to recover the commercial value for the Government,” he added. Meanwhile, two more Hummer vehicles illegally imported into the country were found at Customs during an emergency inspection by State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, when the latter conducted an emergency inspection of Customs and found many items and goods that were prepared to be exported illegally. Five containers full of goods, classified under scrap paper, were opened in front of Siyambalapitiya. When the containers were opened, Siyambalapitiya and the officials found that four of the containers were loaded with brass, copper, and galvanised iron pipes, which are on the export ban list. Only one container was declared genuine, as it contained scrap paper and thus had the original consignment within it. Siyambalapitiya stated that it is a crime to illegally export brass, copper, and galvanised iron pipes, which are essential raw materials for local industrialists.  


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