Probe on import of 30 luxury vehicles; top official transferred

The import of 30 luxury cars in violation of procedures to be followed by the Import and Export Control Department has come under a probe by the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry.

Ministry Secretary Chandani Wijewardena told the Sunday Times that pending the inquiry the Controller General of the Import and Export Control Department had been transferred.

The Department comes under the purview of the Development Strategies and International Trade Ministry. Public Services Commission Chairman D. Dissanayake said that on a request from the Ministry, the Controller General had been transferred.

The investigation was called for after revelations that the approval for the import had been given bypassing a committee which had been appointed to grant approval for vehicles for special purposes.

Ms Wjewardena said an investigation was being carried out to ascertain how approval was granted for the import of the vehicles. The ministry would also seek the opinion of the Attorney General’s Department and the Customs regarding action to be taken.

Custom sources said that though the vehicles were brand new, the manufacture date was more than three years old and therefore could not be imported under normal circumstances. If the vehicles were to be released a special duty needed to be imposed.

Each of the vehicles is estimated to be above Rs 3 million duty free.