Sri Lanka Customs holds 39 camera drones brought in by MP Nalin Bandara

Sri Lanka Customs is holding 39 drones that Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Nalin Bandara brought from Singapore until the required regulatory approvals are submitted, Customs spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa confirmed.

Bandara told the media the small camera drones, brought back with microphones after a trip to Singapore with his wife, were declared to Customs and were meant for his son's business, which rents out and sells camera drones. He said the business had approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, among others, but not from the Ministry of Defence.

“The only issue was that we did not have the proper Ministry of Defence approval,” Bandara said. He denied trying to smuggle the drones or that they were military drones, and said the paperwork would be completed within days so the equipment can be released once duties are paid.