By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

The Daily Mirror report on November 25, 2023, under the title “Alleged smuggled Land Cruiser seized from Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s vehicle yard” was confirmed by MP Nimal Piyatissa in Parliament yesterday.

MP Piyatissa, who responded to a statement by Minister Ranasinghe earlier during the day, said he had inquired on the issue from the police, and they confirmed that the vehicle was seized from Nipon Garage owned by the Minister.

“It has been confirmed by police that the chassis number of the vehicle has been fraudulently changed. The police have questioned the manager of the garage. The manager has claimed that he works for Ranasinghe. The police also told me that they will file legal action against the suspects,” MP Piyatissa said.
“We don’t make any allegations in Parliament without confirming matters. Therefore, I gathered information from the police,” he added.

The Daily Mirror reported last week that a Land Cruiser jeep smuggled to the country has been seized by the Panadura Walana Anti-vice Squad during a raid on Euro Nipon private vehicle yard in Dambulla belonging to Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe and handed over to the Dambulla Police.

The Walana-Panadura Anti Vice Squad has reported to Dambulla Police that the vehicle valued at about Rs. 20 million is suspected to have been smuggled into the country without paying Customs duty and on forged documents.