Almost four months into its appointment, the committee appointed by the Finance Ministry to investigate the release of 323 red-flagged containers from the Colombo Port without Customs inspection is yet to conclude its inquiry.
Deputy Ports Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku told the Sunday Times the probe was still continuing, but he was confident the committee would finalise its report and submit it soon.
A senior customs source, meanwhile, said that the committee had concluded hearing evidence and was finalising its report. It is still unclear when the inquiry will be completed and a report submitted.
The Finance Ministry’s committee, headed by Deputy Treasury Secretary A.K. Seneviratne, includes Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation E.M.S.B. Jayasundara; Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policies M.K.P. Kumara; Director General of the Department of Management Audit A.P. Kurumbalapitiya; and Senior Director of Customs Sapumal Jayasundara.
Customs Director General Sarath Nonis was asked about the controversy involving the containers during a media briefing at the Government Information Department this week. He declined to comment in detail about the matter since the committee’s probe was still ongoing but stressed that Customs had submitted a detailed report on the matter to the committee. “I believe the committee’s report will be out soon, and the report will contain all the information on the matter.”
Sections of the opposition have accused Ports Minister Bimal Rathnayake in recent days of being behind the release of the containers. “The opposition is making such allegations because they have nothing else to talk about,” Deputy Minister Kodithuwakku said, dismissing the allegations.
Some in the opposition have also accused Customs of withholding information regarding the contents of the 323 containers and who imported them. “We can’t publicly reveal details of the items and names of importers like that. If a crime is suspected to have been committed, we will supply details of importers and the contents of the containers to law enforcement agencies such as the CID,” the senior Customs source clarified.
- https://www.sundaytimes.lk/250601/n...icting-reports-on-probes-progress-600222.html
