The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation stated that it does not have the authority to make decisions regarding the recent findings and recommendations made by the Finance Ministry’s committee on the controversial release of 323 shipping containers earlier this year.
The much-anticipated report, prepared by a five-member committee appointed by the Finance Ministry, was recently submitted to President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said that the matter is under the purview of the Finance Ministry. “It’s the Finance Ministry that has to take the necessary decisions. We don’t have anything to do with it.”
He clarified that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), which comes under the ministry, does not play a role in container clearance-related decisions. “We only provide the facilities for the clearance process. It’s the Customs that clears and releases the containers, and Customs is under the Finance Ministry. The SLPA only facilitates that process.”
The Finance Ministry had appointed a five-member committee to investigate the incident, and the committee’s report was recently submitted to Dissanayake. However, the Customs has confirmed that it is yet to receive the report officially.
According to the report, 999 high-risk containers were released without inspection on 13 different occasions, in violation of the standard procedures. The report warns that this could have posed threats to national security, public health, and government revenue. It also criticises the Customs Director General for approving the release without following the due process and notes that powers granted under the Customs Ordinance had been exceeded.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for an immediate halt to the current release mechanism, a full post-audit to assess the damage, and a forensic audit of all containers cleared through the disputed system. [UTVNEWS]