The Attorney General yesterday informed the Court of Appeals that a special expert committee report on the motor capacity of BYD vehicles, which were detained by Sri Lanka Customs and later released on bank guarantees, will be available within the next few weeks.
The update was given by Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena when the writ petition filed by John Keells CGC against the seizure of the vehicles was taken up before a bench comprising Justices Rohitha Abeysooriya and Priyantha Fernando.
President’s Counsel Manohara de Silva, appearing on behalf of a group of vehicle importers, requested court permission to intervene in the case, citing that the outcome would affect 446 other importers. However, the request was strongly opposed by President’s Counsel Farzana Jameel, representing John Keells, who argued that interveners had no legal standing in such cases and submitted Supreme Court rulings to that effect.
The Additional Solicitor General told court that the expert committee – consisting of university professors, a Government Analyst’s Department representative, and an official from the Department of Motor Traffic – is tasked with determining whether the BYD vehicles’ motor capacity is 100 kW or 150 kW. The report is expected within weeks, after which the matter could be resolved.
The Court of Appeals fixed further hearing for September 22.
