Utilizing 24/7 facility

The trade bodies requested importers and exporters to utilize the 24/7 customs clearance facility, the failure of which could lead to such a process not being implemented by any government in the future.

“The former Director General Customs said this was a trial period. For 2 months they were going to try this out. This would be discontinued if the trade did not react positively to this facility,” Emmanuel said.

De Silva noted that the process of acquiring this facility had been extremely difficult, with the present Finance Minister approving it after years of lobbying by the trade bodies.

“If this dies, no other government will start this again in the future,” he said.

Emmanuel expressed that this was due to the high costs attributed to a 24/7 operation, such as overtime, and utilities despite the Customs accounting for a high portion of government revenue. However, he stressed that the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

“We anyway pay for their overtime and we’re not making use of it,” he said.

Ceylon Freight and Logistics Association Chairman Maxwell De Silva said that utilizing the facility would reduce congestion of customs inspection and administrative procedures and businesses could return empty containers at night.

However, Emmanuel noted that Customs officers have been harassing customers and delaying services during the night.

“We need to have standards for nights,” De Silva said.

Dinesh De Silva however said that this would come about naturally if traders change their patterns and use the facility.

“I’m not saying that it’s 100 percent perfect.

There are problems. It will only become perfect if we get involved in it. There are people who would prefer if we didn’t take up this challenge or failed,” he added.