RESCIND GAZETTE THAT LED TO ILLEGAL IMPORTS - CUSTOMS UNION

The All Ceylon Customs Service Union (ACCSU) yesterday urged the government to rescind the Gazette 1818/30 issued in 2013 under the regulations of the Financial Act that has led to illegal and unhygienic imports including garbage from the UK, which is a threat to the national security and health of the people.

Secretary of the ACCSU, J.A. Gunatilaka said it was the ACCSU that exposed the gazette notification 1818/30 issued on 2013.07.11 by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Finance minister that facilitated the importation of a stock of highly hazardous and unhygienic garbage in 241 containers from UK.

Mr. Gunatilaka said 131 out 241 containers have been cleared without the knowledge of the Sri Lanka Customs and another 110 containers has retained by the Sri Lanka Customs in the Port of Colombo.

“The problem now is to take steps to prevent further imports of garbage, solid waste or carbonic or atomic waste in this manner into the country. To do that the gazette 1810/30 has to be withdrawn or rescinded with immediate effect. In addition, the full stock of garbage has to be re-exported to UK as they have been imported illegally and violating all Customs regulations. Thirdly, maximum legal action should be taken against those who imported, stocked and cleared a part of the garbage stock endangering the health of the people, environment and the land,” Mr. Gunatilaka said.

Mr. Gunatilaka further charged that the infamous ‘Pepper Mafia’ that smuggled 134 containers of pepper surreptitiously into Sri Lanka without the knowledge of the Sri Lanka Customs from Vietnam and re-exported to India as quality ‘Sri Lanka Pepper’ was also a result of

This highly irresponsible action has led to the collapse of the Sri Lanka pepper market and pepper growers gave up cultivating pepper as prices dropped threefold in the local market

this highly damaging gazette issued by President Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister in 2013.

This highly irresponsible action has led to the collapse of the Sri Lanka pepper market and pepper growers gave up cultivating pepper as prices dropped threefold in the local market, he said.

Mr. Gunatilaka pointed out that several amendments introduced to the Financial Act were a disaster and highly damaging to the local industry, exports and imports making way for extremely illegal and unethical businesses affecting the local business and local market.