All detained BYD vehicles released, Court of Appeal informed

Colombo, Nov. 17 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Customs (SLC) today informed the Court of Appeal that all BYD vehicles previously detained by the Department have now been released, in line with the agreement reached between the parties at the earlier hearing.

Deputy Solicitor General Chaya Sri Nammuni, appearing for the SLC, conveyed this position when several writ petitions filed by John Keells CG Auto (Pvt) Ltd were taken up before Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice K. Priyantha Fernando. The petitions concern a dispute relating to the motor capacity of certain BYD vehicle models that were held by Customs.

The matters were listed to verify the progress of the release of the vehicles, following an undertaking previously given by the SLC.

Meanwhile, the Court directed all parties to file their written submissions on November 18 regarding the intervention petition filed by the Vehicle Importers Association, which is seeking permission to intervene in the proceedings. The Court fixed November 28 to deliver its order on the intervention application.

On November 11, the Court ordered the SLC to expeditiously release 625 BYD vehicles detained by Customs, subject to respective bank guarantees and corporate guarantees.

Accordingly, the SLC agreed to release the following vehicle models on corporate guarantees for the equivalent value of the bank guarantees: BYD Atto 2 Premium–70kw, BYD Atto 1 Dynamic–45kw, BYD Atto 1 Premium–45kw, and BYD Dolphin Dynamic–70kw. The Customs was also agreeable to release the BYD Dolphin Standard–49kw and BYD Sealion 7–100kw models on bank guarantees.

Meanwhile, 130 BYD Atto 1 Dynamic vehicles and 74 BYD Atto 1 Premium vehicles were ordered to be released on corporate guarantees for an equivalent value of the bank guarantees, while 232 BYD Dolphin Standard–49kw vehicles and three BYD Sealion 7–100kw vehicles were to be released on bank guarantees. However, the Court was informed that six BYD vehicles would remain under Customs custody to facilitate testing of their motor capacity.

President’s Counsel Farzana Jameel, appeared for the petitioners. Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, PC with Deputy Solicitor General Chaya Sri Nammuni, appeared for the SLC.