Yoshitha's BMW Released Amid Import Ban?

COLOMBO (News 1st); At the recent session of the Committee On Public Accounts (COPA) it was revealed that a luxury car under the name Yoshitha Rajapaksa was released during the period when vehicle imports were banned. 

MP Lal Premanath, a member of the Committee On Public Accounts, questioned the release of vehicles from customs during the import ban period. 

He asked, "During the period when vehicle imports were banned, were any vehicles released from customs? One or two, or how many?"

Sarath Nonis, Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, responded, "No, when special vehicles are banned, we can't do that, right?"

Sivalee Arukgoda, Additional Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, added, "On special occasions, especially for embassies, and we remember a special batch of vehicles was brought in for the police. Those were released with government approval during those occasions. Normally, imports are not allowed."

MP Lal Premanath further inquired about specific instances, stating, "Then on June 20, 2021, I believe two BMW cars were released from customs. One was assigned to Mr. Yoshitha Kanishka Rajapaksa, No. 114 Walawwa, Medamulana, and another to Mr. Chanuka Upendra Rathwatta. Another one was assigned to Uda Walawwa, Kiribathkumbura, Asanthi Bandaranaike. Yoshitha Rajapaksa brought in the BMW car on June 20, 2021."

Sivalee Arukgoda confirmed that all details of vehicles released by Sri Lanka Customs are in their database. "Based on the information we have, it is possible that these vehicles were previously seized for violating the law and later released after investigations. However, we can provide a report on this as all details are in our database," he stated.