Toy Story

Oct 09 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has brought in restrictions on imports of remote controlled toys fearing the remote control unit and the frequency band can be used to set off explosive devises, officials said Monday. The regulations limit the frequency radius of ground and water toys to ten metres while aircrafts or any flying devices are totally banned from importation, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse said.

"The main reason for the regulations is that the remote control unit and its frequency band can be used for unlawful activities¦ These can be used to remotely detonate IEDs (improvised explosive devices)," a Defence Ministry official explained.

Any remote controlled toy coming into the island must be approved by the Defence Ministry and importers have to submit the unit and its operating manual for compliance checks.

Any person brining such toys to Sri Lanka without the knowledge of the regulations will have to surrender the toy to the Customs at the airport and a letter will be issued by the Defence Ministry.

The unit will be sent to the Ministry to be tested for compliance. The owner can then retrieve the toy.

Firms who import remote controlled toys have to apply for a vendor l