Sri Lanka Customs has agreed to release 991 detained BYD vehicles under specific conditions, following a petition by John Keells CG Auto, the brand’s authorised distributor in Sri Lanka.
The agreement was presented yesterday (7th) before the Court of Appeal, comprising Chairman Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando. Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena submitted a letter from the Director General of Customs outlining the conditions for release.
Among the key conditions, the petitioning company must provide a state bank guarantee of nearly Rs. 3.6 billion — the calculated difference in taxes owed — and agree to pay interest on the guarantee. The company is also required to fully cooperate with ongoing Customs investigations.
Furthermore, a committee will be appointed, consisting of two technical experts from the Universities of Peradeniya and Moratuwa, a Government Analyst’s Department expert, and an officer from the Department of Motor Traffic, to determine whether the vehicles’ motor capacity is 100 or 150 kilowatts.
After the petitioners agreed to several of these conditions, the Director General of Customs confirmed in court his consent to release the vehicles.
