Bangamuwa v. Senaratne, S.M.J. – sllr 2000 volume 1 page 106

In Bangamuwa v. S. M. J. Senaratne, Director General of Customs, the court addressed whether the Director General of Customs possessed statutory authority under section 163 of the Customs Ordinance to release a forfeited vehicle and examined the proper authority for ordering restoration of seized goods, specifically the powers vested in the Minister under sections 164 and 165. It was held that the Director General’s power under section 163 is confined to mitigating forfeiture or penalties and does not authorize restoration of seized goods, which remains the exclusive function of the Minister. The application for a writ of certiorari was allowed, and the Director General’s release order was quashed, thereby reaffirming the principle that statutory remedies relating to restoration of seized