News Today: Kandy Police investigates ex-minister’s family amid vehicle scandal.

The Kandy Division Crime Investigation Unit has initiated an investigation involving relatives of former Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena due to alleged illegal vehicle possession. The main suspect, a car sales dealer who is the son-in-law of Abeygunawardena, is accused of having assembled a BMW with illegally imported parts and owning a Mitsubishi jeep with a missing chassis number.

The police have imposed a travel ban on the suspect’s brother, Isuru Seram, who is married to the ex-minister’s daughter. This measure was authorized by the Kandy Court following police reports detailing the investigation. Efforts to locate the suspect at his residence in Aniwatte were unsuccessful, with repeated visits proving unfruitful.

Upon examination of the vehicles seized from the suspect’s home, police experts confirmed that the BMW was assembled from imported parts, while the jeep’s erased chassis number has raised concerns that it might be a government asset. Combined, the vehicles hold a value exceeding Rs. 60 million, drawing attention to the scale of alleged misconduct.

The vehicles were discovered following a public tip received on October 20th via the emergency hotline 1997. Chief Inspector Tilak Samaranayake of the Kandy Division Crime Investigation Unit, under the directive of Kandy SSP Anuruddha Bandaranaike, is leading the investigation, which is expected to uncover more details about the case.

This ongoing case has highlighted questions of accountability and legal compliance, particularly concerning the acquisition of high-value vehicles and regulatory checks. The investigation underscores law enforcement’s commitment to addressing possible illegal activities and upholding judicial standards in Sri Lanka.