Fake Electric Car Manufacturer at Ratmalana

Doctor who bought car run by electricity .... taken for a ride!
These days the talk of the town in Sri Lanka is about Hybrid cars. These cars run on batteries as well as petrol.In the meantime,


 one hears from to time about cars which run entirely on electric power and can be charged; which then pose no problems of fuel. A Sri Lankan engineering company situated in Ratmalana too has manufactured such type of cars. Advertisements about this was to be seen on internet web sites which has been so advertised in the media with the motive of exporting this vehicle.

A Sri Lankan doctor thought of trying out by buying this wonderful vehicle. He had then bought the car for a price of about Rs. 33 lakhs. Though he bought the vehicle, within a short period of about a week he found that contrary to what he was told, the car could not be used in that manner.

He found that the battery charge came down when he would drive the vehicle and that the vehicle stopped half-way. Subsequently he complained to the company that there was no solution to his predicament. But they refused to believe his words. Though the doctor was initially given a 3 month warranty, it appeared that he was not able to return the car.

It was after that that the doctor sought the support of Consumer Affairs Authority and the latter filed action against the company. The case filed said that the doctor had purchased the vehicle from this company which was situated at Pirivena Lane and that the vehicle which functioned on electricity which he had bought does not operate properly and that he had paid Rs. 33 lakhs for it. He further told the Consumer Authority that it was registered by him for a payment of Rs. 5000 and that he has not  been able to use it for more than a week.

It was proved at the courts hearing that the vehicle given to the doctor was a fraudulent car. Additional Magistrate of Mount Lavinia, Mrs. Praharsha Ranasingha ordered the 3 directors of this private engineering establishment to return the money taken from the doctor for having been convicted with the offence of cheating the customer by making false publicity.

Seen below is the advertisement published in alibaba.com web site in the internet announcing full details of the electric car which was meant to be exported by the Ratmalana company.