Main opposition party, the SJB, on Friday accused the NPP and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of concealing a report submitted by a committee appointed to investigate the release of 309 containers from the Colombo Port without proper Customs inspection.
Speaking at a media briefing at the SJB headquarters in Colombo, SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said:
“The President appointed a committee to probe the release of 309 containers without Customs checks. The committee has submitted its report to the President, but to date, he has not made it public. Not even Parliament has been briefed on the findings. The President is clearly withholding the report.”
Rahuman added: “We believe the President is hiding the report because it may contain damaging revelations regarding the release of those 309 containers. The government has remained completely silent. There is no statement, no investigation, and no action. We have asked in Parliament multiple times for this report, but it has not been tabled.”
MP also criticised the May 19 Gazette issued by the President, which allowed salt imports until June 10. He claimed around 400 containers of salt had been held at the port, with Customs stating that the shipments had arrived after the deadline specified by the Gazette.
Rahuman said six of those containers had been released between June 12 and 15, even though documents presented to Customs and shipping records clearly showed they had arrived late.
“If that’s the case, how did these six containers get cleared? Who gave the green light?” MP Rahman questioned, saying his party demanded that the President release the investigation report and explain the selective clearance of containers.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon 