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Irregularities at Sri Lanka Customs revealed at COPA

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It was disclosed that there are many administrative shortcomings and irregularities in Sri Lanka Customs at the COPA meeting held.

This was disclosed when the Committee on Public Accounts met in Parliament recently (17) Chaired by Lasantha Alagiyawanna to look into the reports of the Auditor General of the Sri Lanka Customs for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 and its current performance.

COPA drew attention to the financial advantage provided to the concerned institution by presenting fake local information during the release of warehouses brought by a private institution for the water development project in the Eastern Province. Accordingly, during the release of the goods which the concerned private company had warehoused as USD 5,139,621, locally prepared forged documents were used to pave way and obtain USD 1,210,743 in excess for the concerned company when the value shown was USD 6,350,364. Thus, COPA recommended that a report in this regard to be given within a month.

The status of the introduction of new technology by Customs was also discussed at the Committee meeting held. Accordingly, the officers who were present pointed out that currently a system called “Azikuda” is being used to maintain data and it is connected to the Ramis system. Furthermore, a new technology system will be introduced in the future.

Furthermore, attention was also directed to the measures taken regarding the amendment of the Customs Ordinance Act and the officials mentioned that the amendments in this regard will be submitted to Parliament in January 2024.

Due to non-disclosure of correct information while bringing coal to Norochchole thermal power plant, VAT was not charged as an additional tax in the customs investigation to recover the undercharged VAT of nearly 187 million rupees, and a penalty of 205 million rupees was imposed and 70% of the received amount was allocated to the rewards and welfare of the officials and the committee questioned the officials. Accordingly, officials pointed out that they have started discussions with the Ministry of Finance to start a program so that this kind of things does not happen again.

Discussions also took place regarding the use of fingerprints for reporting to duty by customs officials and the officials pointed out that it is difficult to record fingerprints in the most secret operations and in practical situations. COPA suggested the use of fingerprints in other routinely functions and to use a written record during special operations.

It was also discussed that the scanner purchased to check the import and export containers could not meet the expected plans.

The issue of non-exempted vehicles in the possession of customs was also discussed at the Committee meeting held.

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2 drownings today

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Two drowning incidents have been reported today (May 13).

In one incident, one person had drowned while 03 others were reported missing while bathing in the sea off Wennappuwa today (May 13).

Police said four persons from Nuwara Eliya were reported missing while sea bathing and that one body was later recovered.

Search operations are continuing.

Meanwhile, two girls who had gone to bathe in the Palukadawala Tank in Galgamuwa, Kurunegala, have also drowned.

The girls, aged 12 and 17 had gone bathing while they were visiting a relative in the area.

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Police assure that belongings of Kotmale accident victims are safe

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Kotmale Police have stated that luggage, mobile phones and other belongings of the passengers on the bus that met with a tragic accident at Gerandi Ella are safe with them/

Kotmale Police OIC Chief Inspector Vajira Ratnayake stated that the villagers who assisted authorities at the time of the accident handed over the passengers’ belongings to the Police.

The OIC also stated that 35 mobile phones, luggage and other valuables have been kept safe at the police station and can be obtained after the identities of the claimants are verified.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the bus conductor’s ticket book and the money he had collected could not be found.

The OIC had also stated that the exact number of passengers on the bus could not be ascertained due to the death of the driver and the fact that the conductor was receiving treatment in hospital.

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PSL 2025 to resume on May 17

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PSL 2025 will resume on May 17, with the final on May 25. The announcement confirms the league will end a week after it was originally scheduled to conclude.

The four remaining group games will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Ground, with the playoffs and final in Lahore. Aside from one afternoon game in Rawalpindi – between Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators on 18 May, all fixtures take place at night, with evening games starting at 7:30pm local time.

“HBL PSL X picks up from where it left off,” he wrote in the post,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on X (formerly Twitter). “6 teams, 0 fear. Get ready for 8 thrilling matches starting 17th May, leading up to the Grand Final on 25th May. Best of luck to all the teams!”

The league, which was postponed due to increasing cross-border tensions with India, has eight games left.

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