Sri Lanka
USA
Canada
India
UK
UAE
Businessman Dudley Sirisena has issued a detailed clarification addressing the controversy surrounding the importation of a Rolls-Royce vehicle, firmly denying any involvement in customs misdeclaration and stating that the transaction was handled entirely through an intermediary company.
In his statement, Sirisena explained that he had arranged all required banking facilities, including letters of credit, and initially imported a Rolls-Royce Phantom around eight months ago. However, he later became aware that previously relaxed cross-border import regulations had been reactivated, which compelled him to re-export the vehicle and incur additional costs.
Subsequently, Sirisena said an agreement was reached with the overseas supplier to import an upgraded model instead. The latest vehicle — a Rolls-Royce Phantom Series 8 Extended Wheelbase (EWB) — was imported into Sri Lanka through a well-established intermediary company, which managed customs clearance procedures and paid all applicable taxes before handing over the vehicle to him.
Sirisena noted that he later learned Sri Lanka Customs had imposed a penalty of approximately Rs. 70 million on the importing company over allegations of failing to declare the correct model specifications. He stressed that any such discrepancies or errors were solely the responsibility of the importer and not him as the end purchaser.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sri Lanka Customs confirmed to NewsWire that two Rolls-Royce vehicles were recently imported, but clarified that neither was imported directly by Dudley Sirisena. “He may have purchased one of them,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that Sri Lanka Customs has sought legal advice from the Attorney General’s Department regarding whether details of customs law violations can be disclosed publicly. Until such guidance is received, information relating to penalties imposed following customs inquiries cannot be shared.
