Alleged smuggled Land Cruiser from Minister’s Vehicle Yard, seized

• Director of  vehicle yard claims ownership with legal documents

By Kanchana Kumara

A land cruiser jeep smuggled to the country was seized by 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 Dambulla Police. 

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 used on forged documents.
However, when inquired about the incident, ASP Dambulla Division Rukmal Thennakoon said he was on leave and SSP Matale Division Anuruddha Bandara asked to make inquiries from HQI Dambulla Police.

HQI Dambulla Police S.P.R. Ellepola was on leave and Acting HQI Sunil Karunatilleka said that a vehicle seized by Walana – Panadura Anti-Vice Squad had been handed over to Dambulla Police for further investigations and that it would be produced in court.

Meanwhile, OIC Walana – Panadura Anti-Vice Squad IP Indika Weerasinghe admitted having seized a vehicle on suspicion and that he could provide further details in the evening after returning from court.

Meanwhile, Director of Minister Roshan Ranasinghe’s vehicle yard Indika Ratnayake said the vehicle belonged to him, and he was in possession of legal documents pertaining to the vehicle. He accused the police of seizing the vehicle without informing the owner.

However, all our attempts to contact Minister Roshan Ranasinghe over the phone failed.