July 21, Colombo (LNW): A high-value SUV has become the focus of an expanding investigation into suspected vehicle smuggling and document tampering, with links emerging between the families of two sitting Members of Parliament.
The vehicle in question, a luxury jeep believed to have entered Sri Lanka through illicit means, was reportedly registered under the name of Melanie Abeygunawardena, daughter of MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena.
According to official records, the jeep changed hands in October 2024, when it was sold to Rasika Buddhika Pinnagoda Withana, the son of opposition MP Jagath Withana.
The case has now drawn the attention of the Central Anti-Corruption Task Force, which suspects the jeep was smuggled into the country and then fraudulently entered into the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT) database. Investigators allege that the vehicle’s registration data may have been deliberately manipulated to obscure its true origins.
One point of contention is the discrepancy in the vehicle’s reported value. While MP Withana has publicly stated that his son purchased the SUV for Rs. 45 million, documents obtained during the investigation list the declared value as only Rs. 20 million—prompting further scrutiny over possible under-invoicing, tax evasion, or forgery.
The vehicle was recently seized by authorities in Matugama, where it was found in the possession of Withana’s son, who is currently in remand custody until August 01 by order of the Matugama Magistrate. A team of lawyers, including a President’s Counsel, appeared in court to represent him.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have been unable to locate Melanie Abeygunawardena for questioning. Despite repeated efforts, she remains uncontactable, and police say she could face arrest depending on the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
MP Jagath Withana has maintained that his family was unaware of any irregularities associated with the vehicle at the time of purchase, stating that they believed it had been acquired through standard legal procedures.
