The luxury BMW car allocated to the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) has been sold for Rs. 30 million, with the proceeds used to purchase two buses to provide transport facilities for employees at the Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela premises.

According to the Dinamina newspaper, current Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna had decided against using the vehicle, citing its high maintenance costs and heavy fuel consumption. 

Instead, the car was sold under the new administration, and the funds were redirected to improve staff welfare.

Two buses, one valued at Rs. 19 million, were handed over to employees earlier this week under the leadership of Chairman D.J. Rajakaruna. (Newswire)

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Tenders have been called for the sale of the BMW car that was provided to the Chairman of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), which made rounds in the media recently. 

According to the state newspaper Dinamina, CPC Chairman Janaka Rajakaruna is reported to have refused to accept the vehicle, citing poor fuel efficiency. 

The BMW 7 Series vehicle, which was purchased for Rs. 29.5 million in 2018, can travel up to 04 kilometres using 01 litres of petrol. 

An expenditure of over Rs. 6.7 million has been reported for repairs on the said vehicle, while a large sum of money is also reportedly spent on monthly maintenance services. 

Taking these facts into account, the current CPC Chairman has now decided to sell the car and buy two air-conditioned buses to be used for employee transportation.

The two buses are to be purchased at a cost of Rs. 20 million each. (Newswire/ Image – Dinamina)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has been released on bail in connection to the case related to an illegally assembled luxury vehicle that was found in the car park of a hotel in Colombo.

The former Parliamentarian was released on five sureties of Rs. 5 million each by the Fort Magistrate’s Court today.

On October 23, Johnston Fernando was arrested by the CID and remanded after having recorded a statement with the CID on the vehicle in question. 

The CID launched a probe after receiving a tip-off that a luxury vehicle was found parked at the hotel car park. Hotel authorities had informed that the black colour BMW with number plate WP C 24-0430 had been parked a day before the Presidential Election.

During interrogations at the time, the suspect who had parked the car had confirmed that the vehicle belonged to former minister Johnston Fernando and had been dropped off by his driver. Upon inspection CID officials had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.

Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. 

Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. Based on a request by the CID officials, officials from the Government Analysts Department inspected the vehicle after which it was revealed that the BMW had been illegally assembled. 

Police investigations also found that the illegally assembled vehicle was suspected to have been reported stolen in England, as per the INTERPOL website.

Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa told the media that, the vehicle had been manufactured in Germany and sold to a buyer in England and the Police had found links to this vehicle and a similar luxury car reported missing in England in 2021, based on the Chassis and engine numbers. (Newswire)

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Police investigations reveal that the illegally assembled vehicle belonging to former Minister Johnston Fernando is suspected to have been reported stolen in England.

Addressing the media, Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that as per the INTERPOL website, the vehicle had been manufactured in Germany and sold to a buyer in England. 

He further said that the Police had found links to this vehicle and a similar luxury car, reported missing in England in 2021, based on the details provided on the INTERPOL website.

Investigations have found a link between the two vehicles based on the Chassis and engine numbers, which are displayed on the INTERPOL website for verification, he said. 

Stating that there is confirmation regarding links between the Chassis and engine numbers of both vehicles, DIG Thalduwa said investigations are underway based on these findings. 

The Police Spokesman further said that the Government Analysts Department report also confirmed that the luxury car had been illegally assembled. 

Former Minister Johnston Fernando was arrested and remanded yesterday for his use of the illegally assembled BMW, which was found parked at a hotel in Colombo recently.

Initial investigations found that the vehicle had been dropped off by Johnston Fernando’s driver at the hotel prior to the Presidential Election. Upon inspection CID officials had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.

Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. Interrogations of the owner of the company revealed that he had registered the vehicle number plate in March this year via the Motor Traffic Department, but it had been stolen while the vehicle was parked at a radio station belonging to the company.

Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Johnston Fernando has informed the Court of Appeal that he will provide a statement to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) tomorrow regarding an illegally assembled luxury car, allegedly belonging to him, found at a hotel in Colombo. 

Johnston Fernando informed the Court of Appeal in this regard today through his lawyers.

The illegally assembled luxury vehicle of former Minister Johnston Fernando, identified as a BMW, had been seized by law enforcement authorities while parked at a prominent hotel in Colombo recently.

Investigations revealed that the CID had launched a probe after receiving a tip-off that the vehicle was found parked at the hotel car park in a suspicious manner. 

Hotel authorities had informed that the black colour BMW with number plate WP C 24-0430 had been parked by an individual identifying as Gamini Abeyratne, a day before the Presidential Election.

During interrogations, Gamini Abeyratne had confirmed that the vehicle belonged to former minister Johnston Fernando and had been dropped off by his driver, claiming that the vehicle would be collected later.

Presenting facts to the court at the time, the CID officials said upon being inspected they had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.

Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. 

Interrogations of the owner of the company revealed that he had registered the vehicle number plate in March this year via the Motor Traffic Department, but it had been stolen while the vehicle was parked at a radio station belonging to the company.

Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. 

Based on a request by the CID officials, officials from the Government Analysts Department inspected the vehicle after which it was revealed that the BMW had been illegally assembled.

Presenting facts to the court, CID officials informed that charges have been filed against former minister Johnston Fernando for illegally importing vehicles by evading taxes, using an unregistered vehicle, using a stolen number plate, and using a vehicle with a stolen number plate. (Newswire) 

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The Kandy Crimes Investigation Division has seized a BMW valued at over Rs. 60 million and a luxury SUV while concealed at the house of a relative of former minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena in the Aniwatte area, it was reported. 

The Police said a team from the Kandy Crimes Investigation Division had found the two concealed vehicles while inspecting the garage at the property. The two cars were seized as no one in the house could make a legal claim regarding the vehicles.

The owner of the house runs a car sale in the Mahayawa area in Kandy and has also served as a high-ranking official at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority under Rohitha Abeygunawardena’s tenure as the Minister of Ports. 

The Police suspect that these two vehicles may have been illegally brought out of the port. The two luxury vehicles are to be handed over to the Government Analysts Department. (Newswire)

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The illegally assembled luxury vehicle of former Minister Johnston Fernando has been identified as a BMW and had been seized by law enforcement authorities while parked at a prominent hotel in Colombo.

Investigations have revealed that the Criminal Investigations Department had launched a probe after receiving a tip-off that the vehicle was found parked at the hotel car park in a suspicious manner. 

Hotel authorities have informed that the black colour BMW with number plate WP C 24-0430 had been parked by an individual identifying as Gamini Abeyratne, a day before the Presidential Election.

During interrogations, Gamini Abeyratne had confirmed that the vehicle belonged to former minister Johnston Fernando and had been dropped off by his driver, claiming that the vehicle would be collected later.

The vehicle’s key had been obtained from Fernando through Priscilla Samanthi, a Food and Beverages Manager at the hotel. 

Presenting facts to the court, the CID officials said upon being inspected they had found several documents belonging to Johnston Fernando inside the BMW but had not found any documents related to the registration of the vehicle.

Cross-examinations on the garage number of the vehicle with the Motor Traffic Department found that the number plate had been registered under the name of a private firm in Nawala. 

Interrogations of the owner of the company revealed that he had registered the vehicle number plate in March this year via the Motor Traffic Department, but it had been stolen while the vehicle was parked at a radio station belonging to the company.

Inspections of the BMW’s Chassis number WBA5E52010G115194 by Sri Lanka Customs found that a vehicle with the said Chassis had not been legally brought down to Sri Lanka. 

Based on a request by the CID officials, officials from the Government Analysts Department inspected the vehicle after which it was revealed that the BMW had been illegally assembled.

Presenting facts to the court, CID officials informed that charges have been filed against former minister Johnston Fernando for illegally importing vehicles by evading taxes, using an unregistered vehicle, using a stolen number plate, and using a vehicle with a stolen number plate.

Considering the presented facts and a request made by the CID officials, the Fort Magistrate’s Court yesterday imposed an overseas travel ban on Johnston Fernando. (Newswire) 

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Loved watching Transformers, the Hollywood thriller about toys and cars that turn into robots? Well it’s a reality now, thanks to a group of Turkish engineers.

The car-turned-robot aka Transformer is named ‘Antimon’ and has been turned into a reality by a Turkish company called Letvision. “Letrons carries the first and only of its kind speciality in the world with full performance conversion in one to one scale and excellent technical data,” said the company. It is a real life transformer that converts from a BMW into a grand robot completed with powerful arm movements and a creepy face.

The company says Letrons first model and leader “Antimon” took eight months to complete and has been built using an actual car. The Letron series is a unique and futuristic project in the avenue of revolutionise motor sector.

As part of its promotion video, it shows the car driving, while being controlled by a remote, before parking and undergoing an epic transformation and one may be amazed when the head pops out. The background music gives the viewer a close resemblance to the film, and with hand-gestures and ejecting smoke, it is a grand manifestation.

The company said, “Walking functionality was not developed for ANTIMON. The walking functionality can be added if a reasonable funding is provided for a new research and development project.” While the robot can’t walk it has the capability to speak. It can move its head, neck, arm and fingers. Wi-Fi enabled this transformer has LED-based dynamic eye structure and variable light spectrum allows highly effective visual power.

If the company receives adequate funding it also plans to build four other variety in the Letron series called, Bizmut, Argon, Wolfram and Tantal. (Indian Express)

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The Hambantota International Port (HIP) reports it handled over 900 units of the latest BMWs transhipped from the Port of Koper – Slovenia to the Port of Pyeongtaek in South Korea last week.

According to HIP, while usual traffic for transhipment at the Hambantota Port is in the East to West direction, this operation proves that there is a slow growth of RORO cargo coming in from the West and being moved to the East.

Hambantota International Port Group Chief Operating Officer Tissa Wickramasinghe said: “The fact that these high-end vehicles are now coming our way is a clear indication that HIP’s efficiency, reliability, quality of service and capacity for transhipment has now reached ‘best in the world’s standards.”

“While it is the most convenient port of call for transhipment for both the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, HIP’s services are top-notch. Currently, we are pitching our expertise to Original Equipment Manufacturers of electric vehicles,” he added.

Last year HIP benchmarked over 500,000 units of vehicles moving mostly from manufacturers in the East transhipping to the West. As of mid-April this year, the port has already transhipped over 200,000 units of vehicles. 

The Hambantota International Port stated that it is certain it will top last year’s transhipment figures by the end of 2023. (NewsWire)

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