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Business chambers call for immediate halt to customs action

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“This would jeopardise the delivery commitments of the local manufacturers to international brands, further damaging our economic reputation and future trade prospects”

The Joint Chambers of Commerce yesterday expressed strong disapproval of the decision by the customs officers to work to rule, emphasising the urgent need to resume normal operations to avoid further harm to businesses.

The customs officers, who are planning a strike today and tomorrow, have already caused significant delays in clearing import cargo, disrupting the supply chains and delaying production and delivery.

“The delay in clearing goods has led to considerable costs, including port demurrages, yard charges, vehicle detention charges and liner charges. The importers, in particular, are bearing the brunt of increased costs and delays, due to this ongoing action,” said the nine key chambers in a joint statement yesterday.

The chambers voicing their concerns include the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, American Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Exporters Association of Sri Lanka, Joint Apparel Association Forum, National Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, National Chamber of Exporters, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka and Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

The chambers cautioned that the prolonged disruption would have a ripple effect on the exports, as the delays in clearing cargo would lead to vessels bypassing Sri Lanka altogether.

“This would jeopardise the delivery commitments of the local manufacturers to international brands, further damaging our economic reputation and future trade prospects,” it said.

Among the cargo at the port are perishable food items, medicines and other essential goods. Continued delays could result in shortages of these supplies.

Any strike action, as planned for July 4 and 5, will only exacerbate the situation, leading to further hardships for businesses and the broader economy.  

Asserting that at a time when the country is beginning to show signs of recovery and growth, actions of this nature would only dampen such positive momentum, the joint chambers called on the customs officers to reconsider their current actions in the context of the national economy and welfare of the public.

“We recognise that the grievances, if any, must be resolved through discussion and not by resorting to strike or work-to-rule actions,” the joint chambers said, while emphasising that the duties of the customs officers must be carried out with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, prioritising the nation’s interests above personal considerations.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Assets of 02 police officers to be probed

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Assets of two prominent police officers are to be probed after authorities received a number of complaints, highly placed sources in the government say.

One officer in question is a DIG while the other is a SSP, reports add.

The Police Illegal Assets And Property Investigation Division are conducting further investigations.

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AG seeks CID probe into social media smear campaign against his staff

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The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has opened a probe following a complaint by Attorney General Parinda Ranasinghe that his staff have been unduly targeted by false allegations on social media.

The AG’s instruction to the CID came after several of his staff complained to him over the allegation on social media.

Particularly targeted are senior AG’s Department officials awaiting promotions, sources said.

In one of the posts, a senior officer was accused of being supportive of granting bail to Thamil Makkal Viduthal Puligal (TMVP) leader Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, alias Pillaiyan, when his fundamental rights application over his arrest was taken up. During the hearing of the FR case, the matter of bail was not even considered, the sources said.

Another allegation was that in a case related to the suspended Police Chief Deshabandu Tennakoon, the AG prevented a senior officer from representing the department and instead sent a junior officer. However, on the particular day, the senior officer was indisposed, the sources said.

These allegations surface as the AG’s Department has filed more than 600 new indictments in High Courts so far this year, while the Bribery Commission has also referred several bribery and corruption cases to the AG for prosecution.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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19-yr. old dies after falling from elevator

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A 19-year-old youth has died after falling from a service elevator at a hotel in the Pannai area, in the Jaffna Police Division.

According to the police, the incident had occurred last night (June 21) and the deceased has been identified as a resident of Nirveli, Jaffna.

According to investigations, the youth was employed at the hotel and had been using the service elevator -intended for transporting goods.

Further investigations are underway.

This incident follows a similar case recently reported from a hotel in Moratuwa last week.

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19-yr.-old dies after hotel elevator collapses

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