Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has raised serious concerns over the alleged failure in container clearance, which has led to traffic congestion and misconduct. He revealed that even 80% of imported containers marked with red labels were released without hesitation, in accordance with government instructions. Furthermore, he stated that Customs trade unions themselves are questioning these releases and the contents of these containers.
Speaking at a meeting with members of the Samagi Trade Union of the Port at the Opposition Leader’s Office, Premadasa accused the government of assuming responsibility for the containers while struggling to justify their legality. He questioned how the government could assert that these containers did not contain weapons, gold, drugs, or substandard medicines.
The Opposition Leader further criticized the process, stating that it has severely harmed the country by resulting in lost tax revenue and the release of potentially hazardous goods to consumers without proper inspection. He challenged the government on how it could claim responsibility for the containers if they had not even undergone scanning.
Highlighting the continued lack of solutions for container transport officers, Premadasa asserted that the central nervous system of the government had failed and that authorities lacked the necessary knowledge on the matter. He emphasized the need for clear answers from the government and dismissed the notion that these concerns were mere political mudslinging.
He also stressed that when questions are raised in Parliament regarding this issue, the government must provide answers and disclose the individuals responsible for ordering the release of these containers.
