Ajith Gallage, owner of Hambantota Bird Park and alleged smuggler of Rs. 250 million worth of luxury motorcycles, has gone missing. Police suspect links to corrupt politicians and customs officers, and a manhunt is underway.
Hambantota Bird Park Owner Flees as Rs. 250 Million Motorcycle Smuggling Scandal Unravels
Ajith Gallage, the owner of the Hambantota Bird Park, has gone missing after being implicated in a massive motorcycle smuggling operation involving illegally imported bikes valued at over Rs. 250 million. According to police, a court order has been issued for his arrest, but Gallage has reportedly fled his residence and is now in hiding.
Law enforcement authorities, particularly the Central Investigation Bureau of the Police, have launched a wide-scale manhunt to locate the suspect. Teams are actively pursuing leads and intensifying efforts to bring him into custody.
The scandal deepens as investigators have uncovered information linking several influential politicians from the Hambantota area, along with a group of allegedly corrupt customs officials, to the illegal import operation. These individuals are suspected of facilitating the smuggling of high-end motorcycles under fraudulent documentation.
Police further confirmed that Ajith Gallage maintained close ties with the Rajapaksa family, raising questions about possible political protection or influence in covering up the operation. Investigations have also revealed that the motorcycles—some valued as high as Rs. 15 million each—were brought into the country about five years ago disguised as shipments of bird feed.
Several of these motorcycles were found hidden within the premises of the Hambantota Bird Park, suggesting the park itself was used as a front for concealing the illicit cargo.
The high-profile investigation is being carried out under the supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranmal Kodituwakku and led by Superintendent of Police Kamal Ariyawansa.
As the search for Gallage intensifies, public attention is turning toward the political and institutional networks that may have enabled this smuggling ring to operate undetected for years. More arrests and revelations are expected in the coming days as authorities dig deeper into the scandal.
