The Criminal Investigation Department has been tasked with conducting further investigations into the import of 39 drones into Sri Lanka by Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha without the required approvals.

The decision was taken on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, NewsFirst reported on Monday morning. The Ministry of Defence is also expected to conduct an assessment of the drones in question.

Customs officers took the equipment into custody on Sunday after the MP arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake from Singapore. As reported at the time, the seized items comprise 39 drones and 16 microphones.

Importing such equipment requires approval from both the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and the Ministry of Defence, in addition to an import control licence.

Equipment may be released

Customs officials said the items would be released once the MP obtains the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities — the first indication of how the matter may be resolved. No charge, fine or penalty has been reported.

A disputed date now settled

Monday’s filing resolves a discrepancy flagged in this desk’s earlier report. The Daily Mirror had placed the seizure “on the morning of August 11”, while Hiru News said the MP arrived “today (08)”. NewsFirst, filing on 9 November, says the MP arrived and the equipment was taken into custody “yesterday” — that is, Sunday 8 November, confirming Hiru’s account. The Daily Mirror’s August date appears to be an error.

The two earlier filings put the arrival at 11.23 a.m. aboard SriLankan Airlines flight UL 307; NewsFirst describes it as the afternoon.

Not reported

NewsFirst does not say what offence, if any, the CID is investigating, whether the inquiry is criminal or regulatory, or what the Defence Ministry assessment is intended to establish. It gives no timeline, does not report the value, make or intended use of the drones, and carries no comment from Nalin Bandara or the SJB.

Context

Drones are controlled imports in Sri Lanka, and unauthorised use has drawn enforcement action before, including the arrest of a drone operator over an elephant in Kasikote and a Civil Aviation Authority warning over kites, drones and lasers near aircraft. Nalin Bandara has previously raised questions in Parliament over a disputed Road Development Authority payment.