Police yesterday seized 21 brand new illegally imported high engine capacity motorcycles worth nearly Rs. 200 million, including eight US-made Harley-Davidsons from the Hambantota Bird Park warehouse.
Motorcycles with an engine capacity greater than 250 CC cannot be registered and are not street legal in Sri Lanka, according to a spokesman for the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). Higher capacity motorcycles are sometimes permitted to be brought down exclusively for racing and they have to be legally declared. Such motorcycles cannot be registered for road use.
The Central Anti-Corruption Task Force of the Police conducted the raid following a tip-off.
The officers discovered high-end motorcycles from Harley-Davidson and several other manufacturers stored in the warehouse.
Harley Davidson engines range from 440 CC to 2.0 litre, a displacement that is more commonly found in compact cars. Police later arrested the bird park manager and the warehouse supervisor. Police are probing how the motorcycles had been imported illegally and they hope to find the person(s) behind the racket. Police said the motorcycles do not appear to have been used in Sri Lanka. Further investigations are under way.
