In a shocking court reversal, Sri Lanka Customs agrees to release 506 detained BYD electric vehicles despite the importer’s refusal to provide crucial technical information, raising serious questions about transparency and regulation.
Sri Lanka Customs has agreed to release 506 detained BYD electric vehicles after the importer, John Keells Auto Private Limited, submitted an additional bank guarantee. The decision was announced today (September 3) during a hearing at the Court of Appeal, where the company challenged Customs’ refusal to release the vehicles.
The petition was heard by a bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. President’s Counsel Farsana Jamil, representing the petitioner, argued that while 991 previously detained electric vehicles had been released based on a court mediated agreement, Customs was unlawfully withholding 506 additional vehicles of the same category. She emphasized that this action severely disrupted her client’s business operations.
Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, representing Sri Lanka Customs, countered that the petitioner had failed to cooperate with an ongoing investigation. He stated that although the company had agreed to provide technical information about the vehicles during earlier proceedings, it had since refused to do so.
Presiding Judge Rohantha Abeysuriya questioned whether the vehicles could be released under an additional bank guarantee despite the lack of cooperation. After consulting Customs officials, the Additional Solicitor General agreed to release the vehicles on the condition that the petitioner submit an additional bond, with the amount to be calculated and communicated later.
The court directed Sri Lanka Customs to proceed with the release upon receipt of the guarantee. However, the Additional Solicitor General emphasized that the investigation remains active and that technical information from the petitioner is still required. A formal motion detailing these requirements will be presented at the next hearing on September 15.
