President orders probe into Customs swindle:

Seized goods sold for song

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued instructions to the Finance Ministry Acting Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe to conduct an immediate investigation into an attempt by certain elements in the Customs to release a huge consignment of sugar at a grossly undervalued price on the pretext that the sugar was unfit for human consumption.

According to the Presidential Media Unit, surreptitious moves have been unearthed of certain elements in the customs attempting to dispose of goods that have been impounded by Court order to various individuals and businessmen under various pretexts, after undervaluing such goods.

It has been brought to the President's notice that when a consignment of sugar which had been lying at the Port had been tendered for purchase at over Rs. 51 per kilo, various attempts had been made to acquire same at a grossly undervalued price, through influence peddling using the names of politicians, on the pretext that the sugar was not fit for human consumption.

The consignment was to be disposed in the guise of animal feed at a low price, the President's Media Unit said.

Acting on information provided by some officials of the Sri Lanka Customs, the President has instructed the Acting Finance Ministry Secretary to conduct a full scale inquiry in this connection and take measures to dispose of the consignment at the true market value by calling tenders.

Various goods fraudulently imported to Sri Lanka are confiscated within the Port. In terms of the Court order all such goods have to be disposed of by calling tenders.

However, it has been reported that certain elements in the customs have been engaged in fraudulent acts and release the goods seized to third parties at low prices, disregarding the laid down procedure.