President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today ordered the Police to stop all illegal activities of leasing companies. Releasing a statement the President’s Media Division said the President has directed the Police to not allow leasing companies to seize vehicles when clients default on payments as it is an illegal practice.
The release noted that leasing companies often daily inform the Police prior to seizing the vehicle and only do so after carrying out the act. It noted that this type of acts are forceful and also leads to violence. Therefore the President has asked the Acting IGP C.D Wickramaratne to inform Police to not entertain complaints after the companies have already seized the vehicle from the defaulter.
It also noted that under the government’s relief package for Covid 19, recovery of leasing instalments of three-wheelers were suspended for six months stated in S. 2 of the circular 16/2020 issued on March 23. The PMD noted, therefore, seizing vehicles currently is a breach of this order. Therefore the President has also ordered the Police to prevent vehicles from being seized now.
The order from the President came after the killing of trade unionist Sunil Jayawardena this week after an argument with employees of a leasing company over the seizing of a three-wheeler owned by one of the union members.
