Two illegally imported luxury vehicles surrendered to Bribery Commission

• The Bribery Commission said that the vehicles were handed over following an order from Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Two luxury vehicles, a Land Cruiser and a Pajero, which were illegally imported into the country, have been surrendered by their owners to the Intelligence Investigation Unit of the Bribery Commission.   
The Bribery Commission said that the vehicles were handed over following an order from Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage.  Previously, the Bribery Commission was instructed to seize and declare as state assets seven luxury vehicles worth Rs. 400 million, which had been illegally imported into Sri Lanka between 2018 and 2024. This directive included two Montero SUVs and five Land Cruiser SUVs. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal imports of 112 luxury vehicles into Sri Lanka, which allegedly caused a Rs. 7 billion loss in taxes to the state.   
Last week, magistrate Thilina Gamage directed the Customs Director and the current owners of the seven vehicles to hand over their vehicles to the Bribery Commission by August 13.   
The Bribery Commission has announced that the two seized vehicles will be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on August 23 for further proceedings.