The Sri Lanka Customs Department held a special media briefing today (08) in response to recent allegations concerning the release of a group of imported containers.
Speaking at the press conference, Customs Media Spokesperson and Additional Director General of Customs, Mr. Seevali Arukgoda, stated that no illegal or suspicious items were found in the containers in question.
Mr. Arukgoda explained that the release of the containers followed a thorough examination of all relevant import documentation. “We ensured that all import notes were properly reviewed before releasing the containers. Based on the procedures followed, we are confident that there was nothing illegal contained in them,” he said.
He further elaborated that the containers comprised a variety of industrial raw materials, including plastics, yarn, chemicals, automobile spare parts, animal feed, machinery, pesticides, cement, iron pipes, fertilizers, and wood. The majority of these shipments originated from India and China, with additional imports from countries such as Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Switzerland, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
“Due to the methodology we followed during the release process, we believe the containers only held the goods declared by the importers. These were released only after a detailed verification of the accompanying documents,” Mr. Arukgoda emphasized.
He also addressed prior accusations suggesting the presence of weapons, gold, or narcotics in the consignments. “In the past, there were allegations that the containers could contain weapons, gold, or drugs. But thanks to our systematic selection process, we can assert with confidence that these containers did not contain any such items,” he added.
Given the ongoing public discourse, Mr. Arukgoda revealed that the Sri Lanka Customs Department has initiated a post-clearance audit. “The Post-Clearance Department is currently conducting a detailed audit. Furthermore, this matter is being investigated by a high-level committee appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. All relevant officers, including the Director General of Customs, have provided comprehensive details to this committee,” he said.
In addition, information has been shared with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). “We have submitted all necessary documentation to the CID. We have nothing to hide,” Mr. Arukgoda asserted.
He also clarified that there was no external influence or intervention in the container release process. “Let me stress this very clearly: there was no order or pressure from any other party. Everything proceeded as per standard customs procedure,” he affirmed.
The controversy centers around the containers released on January 18, 2025. On that day, there were 180 importers involved, and 234 customs entry numbers were received from them. In total, 371 containers were part of the batch, of which 62 were auto-released by the customs database. The remaining 309 containers were released after proper assessment by the designated committee.
“We have complete information regarding those importers — including their names, addresses, company details, board of directors, and who cleared the goods. We also have the exact container numbers. All of this information has been made available to the relevant authorities,” Mr. Arukgoda noted.
He concluded by explaining the customs inspection process: “We determine what needs to be inspected and what doesn’t through a risk management system. About 60% of containers are released without physical inspection, which is a standard practice not just now, but historically and going forward. Our decisions are always based on risk assessments.”
