The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitarana has appointed a special sub-committee to investigate into the loss of revenue to the Government in registering vehicles imported for special purposes as dual-purpose vehicles.
He took this initiative at the COPA meeting held in Parliament recently. This meeting was convened to review the Auditor General’s Reports for the year 2017-2018 and the current performance of the Customs.
State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna was appointed Chairman of the Sub Committee and State Ministers Dr.Sudarshani Fernandopulle and Duminda Dissanayake, MPs Ashok Abeysinghe, Dr.Harini Amarasuriya and Weerasumana Weerasinghe were appointed members.
The committee drew attention to the Special Purpose Vehicle Identification Codes (HS Code) used by the Sri Lanka Customs and the changes that can be seen in the identification of vehicles for special purposes by the Motor Traffic Department.
The committee emphasized that due to the non-compliance of the HS Code issued by the Sri Lanka Customs with the Department of Motor Traffic when registering vehicles, the government would lose a large amount of revenue due to the registration of such vehicles in another form.
The COPA also focused on the recommendation made by the committee appointed to resolve this issue at the COPA meeting held on September 20, 2019, to obtain a certificate from the Import and Export Control Department when importing such vehicles.
In addition, the importance of making this committee report a law and the importance of amending the relevant laws for the Customs and the Motor Traffic Department to implement the recommendations of the relevant committee were also discussed at this meeting.
The committee Chairman inquired as to why the HS Code introduced by the Customs for imported vehicles is not used in the same way for the registration of the relevant vehicle by the Motor Traffic Department.
The COPA Committee also noted the lack of an automated computerised computer comparison system between the Customs and the Motor Traffic Department. The Committee emphasised that the Finance Ministry, the Customs and the Motor Traffic Department should work together to expedite the installation of this system to avoid many irregularities. The COPA also drew attention to the use of fingerprint machines by Sri Lanka Customs officers to enter and exit office. Customs officials pointed out that there are certain sections in the Customs where the fingerprint machine can be used practically and the fingerprint machine cannot be used. The Committee on Public Accounts directed that these sections be sent to the Committee separately. Treasury Secretary S.R Attygalle and Sri Lanka Customs officials participated in the meeting.
