Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Chairman, D.J. Rajakaruna, announced that steps will be taken to start exporting lubricants within the next two months.
He revealed that an order from Bangladesh has already been received.

Speaking at a function organized by the Ceylon Petroleum General Employees’ Union, Rajakaruna noted that the lubricant industry, which had previously faced collapse, has now seen a doubling of production.

He also mentioned that aviation fuel trade is growing faster than the previous year, following talks with airlines to reduce fuel quantities in the region.

Regarding the New Year bonus for employees, Rajakaruna explained that while he intends to provide the bonus, it requires approval from the Treasury and Cabinet.

He confirmed that although the bonus will not be issued this month, employees will receive an additional Rs. 50,000 as part of their annual salary.

(dailynews.lk)

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

The committee appointed to examine the utilization of ministerial residences for alternative purposes has submitted its report to the Presidential Secretariat.

Minister of Public Administration, Prof. Chandana Abayarathna said that a decision regarding these official residences will be made in due course.

A five-member committee was recently appointed to study the possibility of using these ministerial residences for economic purposes and report on that matter.

Sri Lanka Customs has seized three shipping containers imported by an organized crime gang under false declarations.

The consignment from Dubai is said to be worth over Rs.120 million, and contains a large stock of goods including food items such as turmeric, ginger, coffee, chocolates, cashew nuts as well as cosmetic products, soap and clothing.

The containers were discovered at a private cargo clearance facility in Dematagoda, Colombo.

A team of officials, including Director General of SL Customs – Sarath Nonis as well as Customs Media Spokesman and Additional Director General – Sivali Arukgoda had inspected the seized goods.

Upon inspection, the seized containers were found to hold 06 MT of turmeric, 03 MT of ginger, 03 MT of cashew nuts, and 1.5 MT of coffee beans.

These food items had been imported without the approval of the Plant Quarantine Division, while the cosmetic products, valued at millions of rupees, had been brought in without obtaining the necessary approval from the National Medicine Regulatory Authority of Sri Lanka (NMRA).

The Customs Media Spokesman had also stated that if these goods had not been intercepted, the government would have lost over Rs.120 million in tax revenue.

Investigations also revealed that the addresses provided for the shipment’s consignees were fake.

The Customs Media Spokesman also stated that steps will be taken to arrest individuals involved in this racket.

He also stated that around 07 cargo clearance companies are operating in Colombo, with organized crime gangs allegedly linked to these firms.

Customs officials have stated that the seized turmeric and ginger stocks will be inspected by the National Plant Quarantine Service before being distributed to the public through Sathosa, while the clothing and footwear will be sold through a Tender process.

Meanwhile, cosmetic products and soaps imported without NMRA approval will be destroyed, according to Customs Media Spokesman.