Two Sri Lankan brothers have been fined a total of Rs. 500,000 after Customs officers detected 64 pigeons concealed in their luggage at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The two passengers, aged 38 and 42 and residents of Wennappuwa, arrived in Sri Lanka on Emirates flight EK652 on July 25, 2026.
Sri Lanka Customs officers intercepted the passengers at the Green Channel at around 7.15 p.m. and found 64 pigeons packed inside 12 metal cages carried in eight pieces of luggage.
Eight of the pigeons were found dead.
Customs estimated the value of the birds at Rs. 3,431,400.
Following the inquiry, one passenger was fined Rs. 400,000 and the other Rs. 100,000, amounting to a total penalty of Rs. 500,000.
Customs also ordered that the surviving pigeons be repatriated to Italy. (Newswire)