News

Top level committee probes import of 300 luxury vehicles worth Rs. 2bn

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/11

By Ifham Nizam

A high-level special committee comprising Secretary to the President, Dr. P B Jayasundara and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. S. R. Attygalle has been appointed to look into the improper import of 300 luxury vehicles worth more than Rs. 2 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic, a senior government official said.

The committee will examine all aspects and recommend the penalties to be imposed on the importers, he said. “A report on its findings and recommendations is expected to be submitted within one week”.

Most of the vehicles were imported from Japan, while the others had been brought down from the United Kingdom and Germany.

“Latest model, super luxury Mercedes-Benz and BMW cars are among the consignment imported in violation of regulations”, the official said.

Customs spokesman, Sunil Jayarathne said investigations on their part have been concluded and the recommendations of the committee are being awaited to decide on the next move.

He said the consignment of luxury vehicles has been imported during April-May when the country was under coronavirus threat. “The offenders will be penalized under the Custom Ordinance”.

Investigations revealed that most of the vehicles were imported using duty-free permits and by government officials.

In some cases, Letters of Credit had been opened before the government imposed restrictions on imports, while in the others, the orders had been placed after the ban came into effect, Jayarathne explained.

There is the possibility such vehicles being confiscated, he warned. “The consignments had been shipped to the Colombo and Hambantota Ports”.

The government suspended the import of vehicles in May 2020 in a bid to stem the outflow of foreign exchange.

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News

Sixth anniversary of Easter Sunday carnage: Special security provided to churches

Published

1 hour ago

2025/04/20

Thilina Walpola

Police and armed forces personnel will be deployed at all churches today as the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks is marked.Police stations have been instructed to provide special security to churches in their areas and seek assistance from the STF and tri-forces where additional manpower is needed.

Security arrangements have been made under the direction of Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasuriya.

Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuiyakontha convened a special meeting on Thursday, instructing the Commanders of the Tri-Forces to implement a comprehensive security plan to safeguard worshippers attending Easter Sunday services.

He further directed that the measures be taken in close coordination with the Ministry of Public Security to ensure effective implementation and to allow Christians to attend services without fear or inconvenience.The main commemoration service is set to begin with a procession from St. Lucia’s Cathedral at 7:00 a.m., with participation from Catholics

in nearby parishes—particularly from Colombo Central, Colombo North, Wattala, and Ragama—as well as brothers from junior and national seminaries, priests, and religious leaders. Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is expected to conduct the prayer service, which is scheduled to begin at 8:40 a.m.

A separate commemoration will also take place at St. Sebastian’s Church in Katuwapitiya, in two sessions—one at 8:30 a.m. and another at 4:30 p.m.

By Norman Palihawadane

News

Easter Sunday carnage: Catholic Bishops’ Conference renews call for justice

Published

1 hour ago

2025/04/20

Thilina Walpola

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka says that ascertaining who the perpetrators of the Easter Sunday attacks in 2019 were and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act, is a matter of urgency.

In its special message for Easter the conference says: “This Easter also marks the sixth anniversary of the Easter Sunday bomb attacks on innocent worshipers at Catholic and other Christian Churches and in other places in 2019, causing death and injuries to hundreds of people. In this regard, we observe that certain positive steps have been taken by the present government to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry into this brutal attack.

While we appreciate the efforts made so far, we insist that as a matter of urgency and justice, the final aim of the inquiries should be to ascertain who the perpetrators are and those who have aided and abetted in the dastardly act.

We shall continue to pray earnestly for wisdom and courage for the leaders of our country, as well as solace and healing for the victims,” the message signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka, Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary General Bishop Anthony Jayakody said.