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Customs and Treasury clash over multimillion-rupee reward fund; 600 containers held up

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A dispute between Sri Lanka Customs and the Treasury over the Customs reward fund erupted again, this time triggering a trade union action holding up more than 600 containers at the Colombo Port yesterday.

The clash erupted after the Treasury on Thursday informed Sri Lanka Customs that the balance in the Reward Fund under the Customs Director General would be transferred to the Finance Ministry.

Customs officials have demanded that the Reward Fund be continued to be maintained by the Director General of Customs, as the funds were being used to make over-time payments and spend on training purposes, in addition to the payment of rewards for customs officials for making detections and tip-offs leading to detections.

Customs officials have justified their demand, claiming that if the reward fund is under the control of the Finance Ministry, their payments will be delayed, thereby demotivating them.

However, a senior Finance Ministry official said that under an International Monetary Fund programme, funds of 14 institutions were being brought under the control of the Finance Ministry, and, therefore, the Customs’ funds should also come under the purview of the Finance Ministry.

He said that the Customs had been given the option of retaining Rs 100 million in the Rewards Fund and transferring the rest to the Finance Ministry with the assurance that the payments would be made within a week.

The fund currently has more than Rs 700 million, and the interest also is being accumulated.

Customs Officers Association President J.G.A. Sanjeewa told the Sunday Times that they had decided to demand that the fund be kept under the Customs as some of the rewards cheques issued recently had been returned due to the lack of funds.

He said that as the initial part of the trade union action, Customs officials had withdrawn from carrying out overtime duties, and if the government failed to resolve the issue, they would resort to further trade union action.

Meanwhile, Container Operators Association President Sanath Manjula said that about 600 containers were held up outside the Colombo Port terminals, with some inside the port as well, yesterday. He noted that the Customs were currently carrying out a work-to-rule campaign and were said to be clearing only urgent cargo.

As a result, the containers are held up at the verification points, and the drivers of the trucks are facing security concerns.

Although at present no ships are said to be on hold, with Saturday and Sunday being days when berthing happens, by Monday the situation could aggravate at the terminals within the port, Mr. Manjula noted.

Customs Spokesman Seevali Arukgoda told the Sunday Times that the trade union action was affecting the activities of the port and airport, and officials were handling only the clearing of essential items. The Finance Ministry is expected to raise the issue with President Ranil Wickremesinghe tomorrow.

(Sunday Times)

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Landslide warnings for several areas

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The National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) has extended the early landslide warnings issued to multiple areas in eight districts, as heavy rainfall continues in parts of the island.

The NBRO says that the warnings will be in effect until 4.00 pm tomorrow (Nov. 07).

Accordingly, a Level 1 (Amber) warning has been issued for several Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) and surrounding areas in the Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matara and Ratnapura districts as follows:

Badulla – Welimada, Haldummulla DSDs and surrounding areas
Galle – Elpitiya DSD and surrounding areas
Kalutara – Bulathsinhala DSD and surrounding areas
Kandy – Udapalatha and Yatinuwara DSDs and surrounding areas
Kegalle – Rambukkana and Mawanella DSDs and surrounding areas
Kurunegala – Polgahawela DSD and surrounding areas
Matara – Pasgoda, Akuressa and Kotapola DSDs and surrounding areas
Ratnapura – Godakawela, Imbulpe, Nivithigala, Openayake, Elapatha, Balangoda, Kalawana, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Kiriella and Kahawatta DSDs and surrounding areas

Meanwhile, a Level 2 (Yellow) warning was issued for the following areas:

Kegalle – Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella, Dehiowita, Yatiyanthota, Kegalle, Galigamuwa, Bulathkohupitiya, Warakapola and Aranayake DSDs and surrounding areas

Ratnapura – Ratnapura, Kuruwita and Eheliyagoda DSDs and surrounding areas

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RW named respondent as court to review injunction against e-passport purchase

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Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the writ petition filed with the Court of Appeal challenging the previous government’s decision to purchase passports from two foreign companies.

Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent of the relevant writ petition filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited, through a motion submitted by the petitioning party, when the petition was taken up before the two-member Appeals Court judge bench comprising Justices Mohammed Laffar and P. Kumaratnam today (06).

During the hearing, the attorneys who appeared for the two foreign companies named as respondents stated that their clients have been critically prejudiced through the interim injunction issued by the court preventing the purchase of 5 million e-passports.

The attorneys, who pointed out that the relevant injunction will be in effect until the hearings of the petition are concluded, requested the court to issue an order lifting the injunction.

Meanwhile, appearing for the petitioning party, President’s Council Viran Corea argued that the process of purchasing the passports in question has been carried out under an informal procurement system.

Furthermore, the President’s Counsel objected to the lifting of the injunction issued, requesting for an expedited conclusion of the hearing of the petition and for a final verdict to be issued.

Following the consideration of the facts presented, the bench ordered the petitioning party to file objections related to the request to lift the injunction preventing the purchase of passports. 

Later, the case was also ordered to be recalled on December 09 for the consideration of facts on whether or not the injunction should be lifted.

The petition has been filed by Epic Lanka Private Limited seeking an order invalidating the decision taken by the previous government to purchase 750,000 normal passports and 5 million e-passports from two foreign firms.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Prime Minister meets Anti Corruption officials of ICC

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Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya recently met with key figures from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), including Mr. Sumathi Dharmawardena, President’s Counsel, the newly appointed Independent Chair of the ICC ACU, and Mr. Alex Marshall, (CBE, QPM) General Manager of Integrity and Human Resources, ICC.

During the discussion, Mr. Alex Marshall noted Sri Lanka’s progress in combating corruption in cricket over the past seven years, emphasizing the importance of player education and strengthening the Ministry of Sports’ Special Investigations.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Andrew Ephgrave, Senior Manager, of ICC ACU Operations; Mr. Vije Bandara, Senior Attorney and Director General of Legal at the President’s Office; Mrs. Illeperuma, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Sports; and Prof. Shemal Fernando, Director General of Sports.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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