Prima Company has produced incorrect figures as well as documents and cheated Rs. 1,200 million to the Sri Lanka Customs from a wheat seed import on November 09th, an inquiry has found. According to 'Ravaya' newspaper, documents have put the import at 62,942 metric tonnes although the consignment had actually contained 72,000 mt.
Also, Prima had claimed the wheat was with bran, in order to pay half the duty, when in fact, bran had been removed from the entire consignment.
This alone amounts to a cheating of Rs. 90 million, said the newspaper.
When the Customs had inquired about the unmentioned 9,058 mt, Prima had said it was to be re-exported to Singapore, but wanted permission to send it to its milling factory in Trincomalee.
Customs officers cast suspicions about the Director General of Customs having okayed the allotment of a Customs warehouse for the purpose.
When 'Ravaya' contacted the DG of Customs Sarath Piyatilake, he has admitted that a wheat seed consignment imported by Prima had been halted, and that an inquiry was underway.
He has said the Customs was yet to decide on granting warehouse facilities as requested by the importer.
Attempts by the newspaper to speak to the General Manager of Prima for a comment had been unsuccessful.
Operations manager of its Trincomalee factory Kithsiri Mahiyangamuwa has said he knew about a Customs inquiry into a wheat seed import by the company, but was unaware of the details.
LD
Also, Prima had claimed the wheat was with bran, in order to pay half the duty, when in fact, bran had been removed from the entire consignment.
This alone amounts to a cheating of Rs. 90 million, said the newspaper.
When the Customs had inquired about the unmentioned 9,058 mt, Prima had said it was to be re-exported to Singapore, but wanted permission to send it to its milling factory in Trincomalee.
Customs officers cast suspicions about the Director General of Customs having okayed the allotment of a Customs warehouse for the purpose.
When 'Ravaya' contacted the DG of Customs Sarath Piyatilake, he has admitted that a wheat seed consignment imported by Prima had been halted, and that an inquiry was underway.
He has said the Customs was yet to decide on granting warehouse facilities as requested by the importer.
Attempts by the newspaper to speak to the General Manager of Prima for a comment had been unsuccessful.
Operations manager of its Trincomalee factory Kithsiri Mahiyangamuwa has said he knew about a Customs inquiry into a wheat seed import by the company, but was unaware of the details.
LD
