On Thursday, November 7, the authorities found another illegally assembled vehicle in a garage allegedly belonging to a kapuwa who was previously arrested over similar charges. Investigators located the luxury car after questioning the kapuwa of the Galthenna Devalaya in Kandy. The kapuwa has been remanded. Investigations revealed that the vehicle had the same licence plate as a vehicle in Hettipola, Kurunegala.
Former Minister Johnston Fernando and the wife of another former State Minister are among the high-profile figures detained in connection with illegally assembled luxury cars, raising concerns about corruption and legal system loopholes. The cases cast a spotlight on elite circles potentially exploiting gaps in Sri Lanka’a vehicle regulations.
The Fort Magistrate’s Court ordered the detention of former Minister Johnston Fernando until October 30, following his arrest on charges related to the use of a luxury BMW allegedly assembled illegally.
The car was found with questionable registration details, parked at a Colombo hotel. Fernando’s driver reportedly left the vehicle, which bore documents belonging to the former minister but lacked proof of lawful import or registration.
Interpol website
Police revealed that the BMW associated with Fernando matched descriptions of a car reportedly stolen in the UK. The Interpol website lists the vehicle’s chassis and engine numbers, suggesting it may have been smuggled into Sri Lanka via illegal channels. Customs officials and the Government Analyst’s Department later confirmed that the car was illegally assembled.
Police seized a car without a proper licence plate on October 2, suspected to be owned by the former minister. The vehicle, a blue Ford Laser, was found parked in Liyangoda, Pannipitiya. The tip-off was given on the 1997 hotline, which the authorities have introduced for information regarding unregistered vehicles.
Parallel investigation
In a parallel investigation, the Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court detained Shashi Prabha Ratwatte, the wife of former State Minister Lohan Ratwatte, until November 7. Ratwatte faces charges after the authorities found another unregistered luxury car at her Mirihana residence. Her husband was previously arrested on similar grounds, with the couple claiming the vehicle was brought by a Private Secretary who recently died due to suicide.
Police spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that several police teams are currently investigating these vehicles as more continue to be discovered. “We can’t confirm how many of these illegal vehicles are out there,” he said. When asked about the possibility of a car smuggling operation, SSP Thalduwa said that it is difficult to determine whether these vehicles are the result of an international criminal network or simply isolated incidents as investigations are still ongoing.
