Former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe was recently in the spotlight over a luxury vehicle in his vehicle pool.

News reports had stated that a land cruiser jeep that was allegedly smuggled to the country had been seized by the Panadura Walana Anti-Vice Squad during a raid on the Euro Nippon private vehicle yard in Dambulla belonging to Ranasinghe. The vehicle, which is said to be around Rs. 20 million in value, had been handed over to the Dambulla Police.

However, Ranasinghe had denied reports of a seized Land Cruiser belonging to him. He had stated that the article had falsely alleged a connection between him and an incident involving the seizure of a Land Cruiser from a minister’s vehicle yard. “I wish to categorically state that I have no association with the mentioned incident and the vehicle in question has no connection to me or any business entity under my purview,” he had said.

The Panadura Walana Anti-Vice Squad had reported to Dambulla Police that the vehicle was suspected to have been smuggled into the country without paying Customs duty and using forged documents.

“It is crucial to highlight that I have been actively involved in the auto vehicle-related business for the past 30 years, both locally and internationally, with operations in Sri Lanka, Japan, the UK, and several other countries. Throughout my career, I have conducted myself and my businesses with the utmost dignity and integrity and there has never been a single accusation or implication of any wrongdoing of this nature. Further, I wish to state that I have been a parliamentarian for the last 13 years, have transparently conducted my duties, and honoured the people’s wishes in return, for which they have held me in high regard,” the former Minister had added.