COMMITTEE REPORTS ON HIDDEN CONTAINERS OUT

The release of these containers raised concerns among Customs Trade Unions, civil society groups, and the general public

- By Prageeth Sampath Karunatilake

• A committee appointed by the Director General of Customs released high-risk red containers to resolve port congestion

• The committee report points out that the containers classified as red had been released by Customs without legal provisions

• The opposition members of the parliament alleged that certain facts in the committee's report were being suppressed or concealed

On 18 January 2025, Sri Lanka Customs released 323 shipping containers in its custody without conducting inspections. The release of these containers raised concerns among Customs Trade Unions, civil society groups, and the general public, because this whole procedure left room for individuals representing the above mentioned categories to speculate that some of the containers have contained illegal, harmful, or misdeclared items.

In response, the Secretary to the Treasury directed that the release process be reviewed and a report submitted. Accordingly, by letter No. MF/ST/01/02 dated 30 January 2025, the Treasury Secretary appointed a four-member inquiry committee headed by a Deputy Secretary to the Treasury. This committee was appointed by order of the President. Although it was initially reported that 323 containers had been released from the port, according to the committee report, the actual number was 309. The opposition members of the parliament alleged that certain facts in the committee's report were being suppressed or concealed. Nevertheless, the committee's report on the release of the 309 containers is available and identifies those responsible for releasing them without inspection.