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Message: <blockquote data-quote="monson" data-source="post: 30825791" data-attributes="member: 30005">The release of more than 300 high-risk “red”-labelled containers from the Colombo Port without subjecting them to mandatory physical inspection by Customs was the first major scandal to hit the National People’s Power (NPP) Government. The release of the containers, which occurred in January as authorities struggled to clear a massive backlog of containers held up at the port, raised a number of serious questions, including what was actually in those containers, who authorised their release, and who the containers belonged to. Six months later, it continues to haunt the NPP government, with the release of an investigation committee’s report raising even more questions regarding the entire saga.Revelations that a large consignment of red-labelled containers had been released on January 17 and 18 without subjecting them to a physical inspection were first exposed by unions representing Customs officials. On January 20, the Customs Trade Union Alliance wrote to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake accusing the Customs Director General of releasing the containers in violation of risk management criteria while using the container congestion at the port as cover. The matter was subsequently picked up by the media and opposition politicians.Committee report faults CustomsA four-member committee, headed by Deputy Treasury Secretary A.K. Seneviratne, was appointed by then Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardana on January 30 to inquire into the incident. After an investigation lasting nearly four months, the committee’s report observes that 309 containers, including red-labelled containers (rather than the 323 as originally claimed), had been released without subjecting them to physical inspection. It notes that the release of these 309 containers without subjecting them to a physical inspection exceeds the general discretionary authority vested with the Customs Director General under the Customs Ordinance.Other observations made in the report state that the process whereby the containers were released violates the law, as well as accepted procedures and systems. It has also been observed that the release of high-risk containers without physical inspection could have negative consequences on state revenue, national security and public health. The investigation committee has further questioned whether the release of the containers truly contributed to easing the container congestion at the port, adding that officials of the committee appointed for the purpose of clearing containers had not functioned transparently or within the limits of their delegated responsibilities. The prevailing Risk Management System (RMS) guiding the release of containers also does not accurately reflect the actual risk, the investigation committee has found.The report has gone into extensive detail regarding issues it has identified in the process of clearing containers from the port. Following are some of the key areas that it has highlighted:According to the mechanism currently being used by Sri Lanka Customs to clear containers from the port, the RMS labels all containers into three distinct categories under three colours. These are red, amber and green. Those labelled red are subjected to both a scan and a physical inspection, while containers labelled amber are subjected to a sample inspection and/or scan. Containers with the green label are not subjected to a physical inspection or a scan and are released subject to verification of documentation.More: <a href="https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250706/columns/red-labelled-cargo-release-casts-shadow-over-npps-clean-image-603345.html" target="_blank">https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250706/columns/red-labelled-cargo-release-casts-shadow-over-npps-clean-image-603345.html</a> </blockquote>

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