The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has initiated an investigation into nearly 6,000 vehicles in Sri Lanka that were fraudulently registered with the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT).
According to the commission, these vehicles were allegedly imported illegally without paying the required customs duties owed to the government. Legal action is now underway regarding the identified vehicles.
The commission has seized the vehicles for further investigation and handed them over to Sri Lanka Customs to determine unpaid customs duties and other applicable fees.
It was noted that transferees of these vehicles have faced significant difficulties, particularly when attempting to transfer ownership to second or subsequent buyers.
To address this issue, CIABOC has directed Sri Lanka Customs to introduce an online portal, allowing prospective buyers to verify whether the necessary import duties and fees have been paid before purchasing a vehicle.
In response, Sri Lanka Customs has launched an online platform through which individuals can confirm the legal import status of vehicles and check if the relevant customs duties have been settled.
The public can now verify the import status of vehicles they own or intend to purchase via the following online portal: https://services.customs.gov.lk/vehicles.
