Cricket Legend Sanath Jayasuriya Gifts Himself BYD Sealion 6 On Birthday
Sanath Jayasuriya is a famous cricketer and former member of parliament of Sri Lanka. He has served as the team captain and coach as well. The cricketer celebrated his 56th birthday on June 30, 2025. On the occasion, he gifted himself a new set of wheels- a brand-new BYD Sealion 6. Pictures of the delivery have now surfaced online.
The BYD dealer in Sri Lanka seems to have delivered the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, to what looks like Jayasuriya's mansion. The cricketer can be seen receiving the SUV from the dealer staff, wearing humble clothes. Of the four available shades, he seems to have chosen White for his SUV.
The Sealion 6 is available in two grades in Sri Lanka- Superior and Premium. The former has a price of Rs 21,700,000 while the latter costs Rs 25,300,000 (Sri Lankan rupees in both cases). These would roughly translate to 61.83 lakh and 72.1 lakh INR respectively (1 Sri Lankan rupee = 0.28 INR). We don't know which of these has reached the cricketer's garage.
Sealion 6: A Closer Look At It
The Sealion 6 was in fact, the first BYD model to launch in Sri Lanka. Like the Seal and Sealion 7 that are on sale in India, its design is based on the carmaker's 'Ocean aesthetics'. Unlike the Sealiion 7 electric SUV, it is a plug-in hybrid. It became the first-ever PHEV to go on sale in Sri Lanka.
The powertrain here consists of a high-efficiency engine (likely a 1.5-litre petrol) mated to an electric hybrid system powered by an 18.3kWh battery pack. The vehicle claims a range of 1,092 kilometers. The fuel tank can accommodate 60 litres.
The higher-spec sold in Sri Lanka has a powertrain output of 238hp and 550Nm. In dimensions, it is 4,775mm long, 1,890mm wide and 1,670mm tall. The wheelbase is 2,765mm. It is thus almost the size of an XEV 9e, and rides on 19-inch wheels.
The company has loaded this SUV with technologies and features. It comes with the likes of a 15.6-inch rotating central touchscreen, head-up display, Oceanic Crystal gear lever, 13-inch instrument cluster, ADAS, 10-speaker Infinity audio system, NFC key, ventilated front seats and more.
BYD could launch the Sealion 6 in India, in the upcoming years, and had showcased it at the previous Auto Expo.
BYD Had A Great Entry Into Sri Lanka
It was in 2024 that BYD entered the Sri Lankan market. John Keells CG Auto (JKCG Auto) is the official dealer partner for the brand there. Their first BYD showroom opened in Colombo and the first product to go on sale was the BYD SEALION 6 DM-i ('DM-i' denotes the plug-in hybrid powertrain).
BYD seems to be working on improving its customer support and service experience in the country. JKCG Auto is a big name in Sri Lanka's automotive retail space, and the BYD collab is another feather in their crown.
Sri Lankans Loving BYDs!
It looks like the Chinese brand has had great acceptance in the country. Reports say that BYD has amassed as many as 5,000 orders for their EVs and hybrids, which are brought in as imports from China, for now. “The momentum has been very good, more than we expected, and we have reservations for over 5,000 vehicles right now” said the chairman of JKCG Auto. The company has also launched the Shark-6 pickup truck even though it is the Sealion 6 that continues to be the most popular.