Customs to release 506 more BYD vehicles

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda   

The Sri Lanka Customs yesterday informed the Court of Appeal that it has agreed to release another 506 BYD electric vehicles, which had been detained, upon the furnishing of a bank guarantee.  

This assurance was given during the hearing of a writ petition filed by John Keells CG Auto (Pvt) Ltd, before a two-judge bench comprising Court of Appeal President Justice Rohantha Abeysuriya and Justice Priyantha Fernando.   

In July 2025, Sri Lanka Customs detained two of JKCG’s BYD shipments. Following the filing of a writ application, Customs agreed on August 7 to release 991 vehicles on the strength of a bank guarantee.   

President’s Counsel Farzana Jameel appeared for the petitioner. Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, appeared for the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs.   President’s Counsel Farzana Jameel, appearing for the petitioner, stated that although the 991 vehicles had been released, Customs continued to withhold 506 other vehicles of the same category.  She further submitted that, as a result of this action by Customs, her client was facing severe difficulties in continuing business operations.   

Senior Additional Solicitor General Sumathi Dharmawardena, appearing for Customs, informed the court that several technical details were required from the petitioner in connection with the ongoing investigation into these vehicles, and that a motion would be filed specifying those requirements.   

Accordingly, the court instructed the Additional Solicitor General to present the relevant motion and ordered that the petition be taken up again on September 15.