Hundreds of vehicles Illegally imported and registered Causing Rs.5Bn loss to Govt.

31 August 2023 09:27 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 27 Bookmark

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More than 400 vehicles had been imported to Sri Lanka in this manner and have been registered illegally

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Sri Lanka Customs, the Bribery Commission and the Department of Motor Traffic have uncovered a massive organized fraud that has incurred a loss of more than Rs. 5 billion in revenue to the government through illegal import of vehicles and their illegal registrations.

It has been revealed that this racket had been going on for a long time and more than 400 vehicles had been imported to Sri Lanka in this manner and have been registered illegally.
This was revealed following an investigation conducted into the “Mini Cooper” type vehicle, which was taken into custody by the Bribery Commission after being imported to Sri Lanka using forged documents.

The vehicle, bearing number KE-3845 was imported to Sri Lanka without the clearance of the Sri Lanka Customs and falsely entered into the computer system of the Motor Transport Department, causing a loss to the Government in excess of Rs.2.5 million.

When the facts were submitted to the Colombo Chief Magistrate, the Bribery Commission informed court that the said vehicle was brought to Sri Lanka using fake documents in 2007 and registered as a three-wheeler in 2015.

Comments - 27

Cugan Thursday, 31 August 2023 10:39 AM

Named the people who was behind this racket big sharks

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Maheepala Thursday, 31 August 2023 10:43 AM

Is it a joke? If RMV/DMT has stopped registrations of vehicles, How can some people to allowed to register? Under which grounds ?

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Dhusana Thursday, 31 August 2023 10:46 AM

Only details of one vehicle - (Mini Cooper) have been highlighted ! What about the other out of 400 vehicles ? All types of frauds have been taking place in Sri Lanka but been detected after years have passed. The Politicians and Officials involved may have now retired after collecting billions and some may have migrated ?

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Hussain Kamil Thursday, 31 August 2023 10:52 AM

If so the customs officers who cleared the vehicles and the officer who was responsible must be punished for this offence.... There is no point in publishing such nres and keeping quate... possibly there could have been a political influence too..

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Gihan Thursday, 31 August 2023 11:11 AM

Track them down and seize them until the applicable duties are paid by the original offenders. If the ownership has been transferred then the current owner will be adversely impacted. The new owner may choose to pay the due and pursue the original offender. This is the only way to put an end to it.

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Mahila Friday, 01 September 2023 12:37 AM

“The new owner may choose to pay the due and pursue the original offender” NO WAY!!! SOLUTION, is Crush, Destroy ILLEGAL UNIT - send to Steel Mill - smelting!!!??? RE-EXPORT!!?? That’s the way - STOP illegal IMPORT, MALPRACTICE

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Be Fair Thursday, 31 August 2023 11:21 AM

VIASL, Customs Officers, RMV all in this game. High time Govt stops Grey Imports should allow only AUTHORIZED AGENTS TO IMPORT. or have a system like in Singapore where 01 car person for 5 years

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Mahila Friday, 01 September 2023 03:42 AM

Top to bottom – ‘HoS’ and ‘CiC’ to ‘Foot soldier’- the innocent poor rural voter – INCLUSIVE!!!??? NONE EXCEPTED, Lured by Aggrandisement!!!??? From Billions in $$$ at TOP to measly, Rs 5000 (USD 15.39 cents) plus ¼ Bottle Gal (JF) Special Arrack and 1 Packet Chicken Biryani frothier Vote!!?? All major religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity (Catholic and Protestants - CoE) and last but not least Islam, it amounts to SACRILEGE and denouncement – MEANNG the Corruption,

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Be Fair Thursday, 31 August 2023 11:23 AM

The Mercedes-Benz G Wagon in the Presidential Fleet is such a vehicle that was imported in 2015

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PSG Friday, 01 September 2023 09:05 AM

Well said. Many of these so called imports are inside the Government MP's fleet and armed forces personal vehicles.

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BuffaloaCitizen Thursday, 31 August 2023 11:34 AM

Majority in these places are Sinhalese. Therefore it is obvious to see high levels of corruption and criminality.

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AKD Thursday, 31 August 2023 12:49 PM

This is just the tip of the iceberg!

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ANTON Thursday, 31 August 2023 04:03 PM

THOSE MUST BE LITTLE TOY CARS, THAT IS WHY NO ONE HAD SEEN IT.

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K.B.Menon Thursday, 31 August 2023 04:13 PM

Your Country is prospering and poverty is just around the corner.

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Gungunath Palanthota Thursday, 31 August 2023 04:32 PM

Wonderful news for the day! No one knows of these work! Government is ignorant! All are taking Pin Psi while people are struggling to survive! That unelected man still taking Bana and visiting temples for blessings!

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ChildOfGod Thursday, 31 August 2023 05:16 PM

Why go after the persons who have purchased such vehicles, they may have not even been aware of the Importers crooked ways. I feel the person/s and or the importers/companies should be help responsible for all imported vehicles they bring into the country. If the importers of such vehicles have used a stooge to act as the seller both the importer and the initial seller should be held responsible for the first transaction/sale. Sad to say Sri Lanka is getting well noted on the international scene as a country corrupt to the core and now from the big wigs others too joining the band wagon. First go after those who brought the country down, or the MASSES will be up in arms once again.

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Mahila Friday, 01 September 2023 12:43 AM

Purchaser of second-hand vehicles are supposed to carryout due diligence, Registration details - it may be a stolen vehicle!!!???

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edirimalpana Thursday, 31 August 2023 05:19 PM

Okay. Let us challenge the government. Will they appoint a high court/ Supreme Court judge to investigate and catch the culprit. MPs, Ministers are involved in this matter. Can the parliament of MPs request investigation? No it will never happen. This is Sri Lanka. Ape Lanka.

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N V Jen Thursday, 31 August 2023 05:43 PM

Is there a single ministry or department in this country sans corruption and mismanagement? All these findings no doubt will be swept under the carpet thru the intervention of ministers and MP's, as usual.

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S k sirisena Thursday, 31 August 2023 06:12 PM

More of these are waiting to be assembled at various backyards. Anyone buying a car in this country must check for fresh welding lines that appear across the unibody. Import and registration history also to be checked thoroughly for fraudulent documentation. Beware of CB series European cars.

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GIA LANKA Friday, 01 September 2023 03:21 AM

ALL THESE VEHICLES IMPORTERS HAVE CORRUPT POLITICIANS BEHIND THEM POLITICAL HUTHIGAY PUTHA MINISTERS GET MILLIONS IN PAGGAR MONEY. ALL POLITICIANS MUST BE BROUGHT TO GALLE FACE GREEN WITHOUT THEIR CLOTHE

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Citizens Friday, 01 September 2023 08:08 AM

So we, the poor, pay the price for this so-called thieved loss!

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VJ Friday, 01 September 2023 11:51 AM

Due to the import ban, vehicles in the country went up in price. Even the insurance company pressured owners to revalue their vehicles and increased the premium. This is a well organized scam supported by the government to benefit a specific group of people. The truth will never be told and the offenders will never be punished.

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ChildOfGod Friday, 01 September 2023 02:04 PM

Mihila, of course the buyer will check the registration when purchasing a vehicle, condition of vehicle and road worthy too. I have not heard of anyone purchasing a vehicle going into the A to Z of who imported the vehicle, did he/she get a import permit, how much was it first purchased, how many owners of the vehicle from import/sale to time of purchase for etc etc. I would imagine a person purchases especially a second hand vehicle based on the registration, road worthy and condition of the vehicle (mileage year of manufacture) and price being within their range. If they know little about the vehicle they are to purchase, they research and or get it checked out prior to purchase. No one just takes a bundle of cash and or a open cheque and go blind folded to purchase a vehicle, after all it is not as if they are going into a shop to purchase a toy car for a child. Importers get cars cut up and shipped as spare parts and put together in a workshop too.

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Mahila Friday, 01 September 2023 06:19 PM

In Brief, if the purchaser for any reason does not do the DUE DEILIGENCE, prior to purchase, then he will suffer the consequences!!! Then he may even end up purchasing stolen vehicles and he won't have ownership!!??? "Buyer Beware", is the underlying rule!! Even a pound of Sugar or Rice, same applies to ensure one doesn't get ripped-off!!!

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Sambo Friday, 01 September 2023 05:48 PM

So were the custom officers sleeping or earning a fast buck

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Lion Sunday, 03 September 2023 08:31 AM

If independent probe is conducted, you will definitely find top lot of customs top lot of RMV and influential politicians of the ruling click are involved. In this country such an independent probe is a dream .

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