The Pelmadulla Police has arrested three persons for illegally importing an SUV and a car and using it with fake number plates.

According to the Police, based on a tip-off, officials from the Pelmadulla Police had found the two vehicles concealed inside a garage in the area in October 2024.

Further investigations led to the arrest of the three suspects yesterday. They are aged 49, 59, and 61 years, and are residents of Embilipitiya and Mamadala. 

The suspects have been remanded until 11 March 2025 after being produced before the Pelmadulla Magistrate’s Court yesterday. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs’ Revenue Task Force has seized illegally imported medicines, worth Rs. 90 million, from a warehouse at the Colombo Port.

According to Sri Lanka Customs Media Spokesman, 1.8 million illegally imported Pregabalin (Pregab 150mg) capsules had been seized. 

The Spokesman said the shipment had been found concealed in 36 wooden speaker boxes imported by a businessman in Pettah. 

The consignment had been imported from India without the approval of the National Medicine Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka.

The Customs Media Spokesman added that investigations suggest that it had been imported to target schoolchildren for drug addiction. (Newswire)

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An African Serval Cat has been brought to Sri Lanka from Moscow Russia via air cargo, it was reported. 

According to Lankadeepa Newspaper, the African Serval Cat has been brought into Sri Lanka without proper approval.

Sri Lanka Customs Officials said investigations revealed that a Kandy resident had brought the animal to Sri Lanka. 

The African Serval Cat declared a protected species is similar to the Sri Lankan Fishing cat.

There is great demand for the African Serval Cat as they are kept as pets in Europe and Middle East countries. (Newswire/ Image- File pic)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court has ordered the owners of six super luxury SUVs valued at over Rs. 600 million, illegally brought into the country, to immediately hand over their vehicles to the Bribery Commission. 

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, the vehicles had been illegally brought into the country depriving the country of Rs. 300 million in customs duties and had also been unlawfully registered by deleting the data in the Department of Motor Traffic’s computer system.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage had issued the order to hand over the vehicles to the Bribery Commission after considering a request made by the commission which had filed six complaints.

The judge has instructed the vehicle owners to hand over the three monteros and the three luxury jeeps to the Bribery Commission before June 07, 2024. (Newswire)

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The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) has raised concerns over the alleged illegal importation of 330 foreign birds from Suriname.

Issuing a statement, the CEJ said the birds had arrived via a private plane at Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).

“The person responsible for this import did not have the necessary license, and despite the license issues, the birds were not prevented from being delivered to the person concerned,” the environmental organization revealed.

The CEJ has called on the Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation, the Director General of the Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The environmental organization warned that failure to act by the authorities within 14- days of their letter of demand, it will be forced to initiate necessary legal action in this regard. 

The full letter of the CEJ:

Illegal Importation of Exotic Birds and Violations of Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance

Centre for Environmental Justice (Guarantee) Limited, Mr. Withanage Don Hemantha Ranjith Sisira Kumara, Director and Senior Advisor, Centre for Environmental Justice and Mr. Pathragoda Kankanamge Dilena, the Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice all of 20A, Kuruppu Road, Colombo 08 sent a Letter of Demand addressing the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs, Minister of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation and Director General of Department of Wildlife Conservation regarding the illegal importation of exotic birds and violations of fauna and flora protection ordinance.

Recent reports, reveal the illegal importation of 330 exotic birds from Suriname via a private plane that arrived at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), Mattala. The individual responsible for this importation did not possess the required license, and despite permit issues, the birds were not prevented from being released.

It has come to Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) attention that a shipment of these birds, following an earlier importation, was prevented from being released due to a lack of documents and permits. However, the birds are currently held under the custody of animal quarantine and allowed ‘safe custody’ at the premises of the importer in Hambantota until an investigation is completed.

CEJ deeply concerned about recent information indicating potential attempts by certain officials to unlawfully detain and grant licenses for the imported birds, exploiting a previously obtained license. This not only raises significant legal issues but also poses a severe threat to our environment, demanding immediate and thorough attention.

According to section 43 of the Customs Ordinance, if any goods enumerated in the table of prohibitions and restrictions in Schedule F shall be imported or brought into Sri Lanka contrary to the prohibitions and restrictions contained in such table in respect thereof, such goods shall be forfeited, and shall be destroyed or disposed of as the Director General of Customs may direct.

Importing exotic birds without proper permits is a direct violation of Section 37 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance. It is crucial to underline that neither Sri Lanka Customs nor the Wildlife Conservation Department has the authority to recommend re-licensing for illegally imported birds, and maintaining possession of these birds by the alleged perpetrator is legally flawed.

In light of the above, CEJ urgently request from the relevant Authorities to take the following comprehensive actions:

• Conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the illegal importation of exotic birds and take appropriate legal action against those responsible for violating the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
• Assess the origin of the birds, given Suriname’s notorious reputation for bird and animal smuggling from the Amazon rainforest. Investigate the potential risks of diseases that these birds may carry, considering the high chances of them being wild-caught.
• Ensure that the remaining birds are securely held in a location that strictly adheres to proper quarantine standards. This is imperative to protect both the imported birds and native wildlife from potential diseases that could have severe consequences for our ecosystem.
• Keep the public informed about the steps being taken to address this issue and ensure transparency in the investigative and corrective process.

In the event of their failure to respond to this demand as to what action/s they propose to take in keeping with the statutory cum constitutional duty imposed upon them within 14 days of the receipt of this demand, please be informed that not only would CEJ regard the content of this letter having being admitted but also that it would be construed CEJ in law as an inaction on their part and a refusal to perform them said statutory cum Constitutional duty which would compel CEJ to seek and pursue appropriate legal action in an appropriate judicial forum. (NewsWire)

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A luxury SUV, worth Rs. 15 million, which had been illegally imported to Sri Lanka by a politician from the Central Province has been seized by the Panadura Walana Anti-corruption Unit, it was reported.

According to Lankadeepa, the vehicle was to be sold for Rs. 10 million by the owner of a prominent car dealership. 

The vehicle had been seized while parked in the car park of an apartment complex in Narahenpita, owned by the car dealership owner, while he was also arrested yesterday (Nov 01).

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the vehicle had been illegally imported by the Central Province politician. From 2018 to 2022, it had been registered under his name at the Motor Traffic Department using forged documents.

The Police said, however, that the vehicle ownership was transferred to another person in 2022. 

Investigations had been launched into the vehicle after information had come to light that it was to be sold at a lesser price. (NewsWire)

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A luxury SUV worth over Rs. 80 million that had been illegally brought down to Sri Lanka, depriving the government of a large amount of tax, has been taken into custody by the Walana Police. 

The SUV had been seized while it had been concealed at the residence of a businessman in Kurunegala with the intention of selling it using forged documents. 

A prominent Doctor based in Colombo is reported to have brought down the vehicle that was manufactured in Japan in 2020. 

The vehicle was found after a tip-off received by the Walana Police on attempts to sell it for a lesser amount. The Walana Police had seized the vehicle after its Police officers had been on patrol duty for several weeks in the Kurunegala area.

Investigations have revealed that the Colombo- based doctor had sold the vehicle to a businessman in Kurunegala, who in turn had concealed it at the residence of another businessman in Kurunegala. 

The SUV had initially been registered at the Motor Traffic Department using the name of another businessman, who had revealed while questioning that the vehicle was not in his possession. 

Police investigations have found that the second owner of the vehicle  was an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Employment, while investigations have been launched into how he had been named as the owner. 

The Police state it is suspected that the documents related to the vehicle and documents stating that income tax has been paid are fake.

The Police also suspect that the Colombo doctor had brought this car to Sri Lanka by preparing false documents with the help of someone from Sri Lanka customs and it was falsely registered under the names of others with the help of Someone from the Motor Traffic Department.

Police investigations have been launched to apprehend those involved in this incident. (NewsWire)

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