<ul><li> Cites revenue generation&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li> Claims they have to be flexible when required, which is why containers were rerouted through the Customs scanning unit by the DG for the ease of the goods flow during heavy congestion&nbsp;</li></ul> The Sri Lanka Customs stated that they have a responsibility to facilitate trade in order to generate revenue, and that the release of 323 containers earlier this year, which has since drawn controversy, was carried out as part of this process. The release of the containers, which took place between July 2024 and January 2025, has sparked serious allegations, including claims that proper procedures were ignored and that some containers may have included dangerous items like drugs or weapons. Speaking to The Daily Morning, Customs Spokesperson, Additional Director General (ADG) Seevali Arukgoda said that if businesses are delayed due to prolonged container holding, it directly affects their ability to operate and generate income, which in turn impacts the Government’s ability to collect taxes. He added that helping businesses function smoothly is a globally accepted principle and part of the Customs’ mandate. “Customs has four main objectives: revenue collection, trade facilitation, social protection, and organisational development. We need to support businesses so that they can operate and generate revenue. If people are not able to do business, how can we collect taxes? If we cause delays by holding containers for too long, their operations suffer. When needed, we have to be flexible. That is why containers were rerouted through the Customs scanning unit. It is a system used during periods of heavy congestion to ease the flow of goods.” Arukgoda also noted that although the system in question can still be used when necessary, there is currently no intention to do so due to the public attention that it has drawn. "This system was not something newly introduced. It has always been within the authority of the DG of Customs (DGC) to decide how freight arriving by sea is handled. If he/she does not make these decisions, there is no one else who can.” According to a report prepared by a Ministry of Finance-appointed committee to look into the questionable container release, 999 high-risk containers were released without inspection on 13 occasions, between July 2024 and January 2025. The committee states that this action, reportedly taken to ease congestion, broke away from accepted Customs procedures and legal boundaries. The report warned of possible threats to national security, public health, and state revenue due to the release of these containers without proper checks. It also questioned the effectiveness of the congestion relief effort and raised doubts about the accuracy of the risk management system itself.

Controversial container release: Customs defends move as trade facilitation

Government institutions have been instructed to submit reports on unauthorised constructions that fall under their purview, and the Government will make a decision based on those reports, said the Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, T.B. Sarath.Speaking to The Daily Morning, he said that there are a large number of unauthorised structures across the country, ranging from small shops to large-scale buildings, some of which have stood for 40 to 50 years. He added that not all of these can be removed at once, as the issue needs to be handled on a case by case basis.“There are permanent structures such as houses, some of which have deeds. Others are directly linked to politicians. Some may need to be relocated or provided with alternatives. It’s not possible to apply a uniform solution to all situations. However, discussions are ongoing among the relevant authorities to determine the best solution. The institutions responsible will submit reports on the constructions that fall under their purview. Once that is done, the Government will make appropriate decisions,” he added.&nbsp;Unauthorised constructions on State-owned land have become a rising issue, especially in rapidly developing areas and regions near forests, rivers, and roadways. These structures are built without proper approval, sometimes on land reserved for public use, conservation, or future development projects.

Unauthorised constructions: Govt. entities told to inform authorities 

<ul><li> Heroin, Ice, Ganja, Coke, Hash seized</li><li>106,000 arrested; 35,442 cases filed&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Male-female suspect duo nabbed with ‘Ice’/firearm/ammo</li></ul> A total of 922 kg of heroin has been seized during joint operations conducted by the Police and the three armed forces, across the country, so far this year.Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F.U. Wootler, disclosed the information at a special press briefing held yesterday (14), at the Police Media Division. According to Wootler, the statistics refer to raids carried out between 1 January and 11 July.&nbsp;During this period, the authorities also seized 1,386 kg of crystal methamphetamine (‘Ice’), 10,895 kg of cannabis, 22 kg of cocaine, and 329 kg of hash.&nbsp;He also stated that nearly 106,000 individuals were apprehended in connection with these operations.Meanwhile, he further noted that 35,442 cases were filed as part of special crime operations conducted from 13 April to 12 July.&nbsp;During this three-month period alone, Police seized 302 kg of heroin, 104 kg of Ice, and 2,641 kg of cannabis, he added.Meanwhile, a 31-year-old female suspect has been arrested at the Ibbagawatta Junction in Modara while in possession of 20 g of Ice. Based on a tip-off received, the suspect was arrested during a raid carried out by a team of officers from the Colombo North Divisional Crime Detection Bureau. The suspect is a resident of Colombo 12. Following her interrogation, officers searched a residence located in Newnham Square in Colombo 13, believed to be linked to a suspect involved in drug trafficking. During the search, a second suspect was arrested with 745 g of ‘Ice’, a foreign-manufactured revolver, and five rounds of ammunition. The second suspect, a 39-year-old resident of Colombo 13, is believed to be a close associate of a major drug trafficker and organised criminal. Both suspects have been handed over to the Modara Police Station.&nbsp;

2025 first half: 13,554 kg narcotics seized 

A total of 181 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) this year for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) poaching in Sri Lankan waters. A total of 24 Indian fishing vessels have also been detained so far in 2025, according to a statement by the SLN.The cross-border criminal issue is one of the island’s contemporary security challenges. The ongoing issue, which increased exponentially following the end of the internal conflict in 2009, has devastated the livelihoods of Sri Lankan fisher communities in the north of the island.&nbsp;The northern fishermen have been battling the colossal Indian trawler flotilla that illegally enter Sri Lankan waters and engage in the destructive practice of ‘bottom trawling’, stripping bear the vibrant and fertile fish breeding grounds of the Palk Strait, and the Northeastern coast of the island. For more than a decade, Sri Lanka has been slow to move on the matter, worried about ruffling feathers in New Delhi.&nbsp;

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishers arrested

The Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) recently recommended that legal steps be taken to take over the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), which previously belonged to the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Trust Fund as an institution administered by the fund, noting that its transformation into a fully private entity was carried out unlawfully. Accordingly, COPE Chair Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera made this recommendation to the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, and Mahapola Trust Fund Chairperson retired Justice Vijith Kumara Malalgoda. This recommendation was made during the meeting of the COPE held on 9 July. During the meeting, it was extensively discussed that the property transfer, based on a Cabinet of Ministers decision in 2015, carried out with the consent of the minister at the time, was unlawful. It was also noted that the SLIIT had paid Rs. 408 million to the fund in this regard, and several Parliamentarians pointed out that it is concerning for an institution originally owned by the fund to pay such an amount back to the fund to gain ownership. Dr. Samaraweera emphasised that those responsible should be duly penalised and that such unlawful and fraudulent actions must be prevented from recurring. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, who holds the position of the ‘Founder Trustee’ of the fund, stated that such fraud will not be allowed to fade into obscurity over time, and assured that further investigations will be conducted accordingly. A former official who opposed the transfer of ownership at the time informed the COPE that the institution, which had begun as a State entity with official representatives on the Board of Directors, was later illegally removed from State oversight due to greed stemming from the realisation that it had become a hub of substantial financial movement. It was also discussed that some parties might attempt to foster a misconception that these investigations could cause the collapse of a university attended by a large number of students. Therefore, the COPE emphasised that while the SLIIT should continue its current operations, its administration should be returned to the fund. This would, in turn, enable a greater number of students to pursue degree programmes at a more affordable cost. Attention was also drawn to the previous Government’s failure to properly fill key internal roles in the fund, including the Internal Auditor position. The COPE highlighted that having an inadequately staffed workforce in an institution that handles such a large amount of funds raises serious concerns about its efficiency.Discussions also covered the current status of companies administered by the fund, including the National Wealth Corporation (Private) Limited and its subsidiary NatWealth Securities Ltd., both of which have been incurring losses. As such, the COPE decided that a commercial audit should be conducted, and that appropriate next steps be taken. Further, attention was drawn to the potential to expand Mahapola Scholarships to a greater number of students eligible for university admission. The Chairperson of the fund stated that efforts are being made to achieve maximum equity in the use of interest and other income generated from the current capital of approximately Rs. 20 billion. In addition, the COPE discussed issues including the appointment of Trade Exhibition Officers on a contractual basis for a two-year term in 2023, and a loss of Rs. 750 million to the fund due to the withdrawal of the selected Online Lottery Operator. The COPE directed that these matters also be subjected to a commercial audit and that necessary actions be taken accordingly.

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s ownership to be returned to Mahapola

<ul><li> CIABOC to slap fines on public officials yet to submit assets/liabilities&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul> Measures will be taken to facilitate the payment of spot fines issued by the Police for traffic violations through the use of the GovPay application from September, a Board member of the Information and Communication Technology Agency, Harsha Purasinghe stated.He made this revelation while addressing a media briefing in Colombo. The launch of the new Online Traffic Fine Payment System from September has been confirmed.Meanwhile, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has announced that fines will be imposed on public officials who fail to submit their assets and liabilities declarations after yesterday (14). The CIABOC stated that a considerable number of declarations are still expected to be submitted and that measures have been taken to impose fines on public officials who submit their declarations from today (15) onwards. The CIABOC has informed all heads of state institutions regarding this matter.&nbsp;In accordance with the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 09 of 2023, public officials are required to submit written declarations of assets and liabilities for this year until the centralised electronic submission system becomes operational. Officials who failed to submit their declarations by the initial deadline of 30 June were granted a two-week grace period.&nbsp;The CIABOC noted that as the grace period ended yesterday, institutional heads are now required to forward the list of public officials who have not submitted the declarations to the CIABOC in the coming days. The CIABOC emphasised that under the provisions of the new anti-corruption legislation, fines will be levied on the officials who continue to delay their submissions beyond the stipulated deadline.

Fines: Traffic fines payment via GovPay in Sept.

The Managing Director of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) and the Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Limited (CPSTL), Dr. Mayura Netthikumarage has announced that there will be no new recruitments at the CPC.He stated that the adoption of modern technology has enabled the corporation to reduce its human resource requirements.Speaking further, Dr. Netthikumarage assured that current employees need not fear for their job security.He stated that in 2012, the CPC had about 3,290 employees, but with plans now in place to implement modern technology in many areas, the Corporation would no longer require as many personnel as before.“According to our revised manpower structure, the workforce has been reduced to 2,031. A significant number of current employees are due to retire this year and next year (2026). Once they retire, they will not be replaced, as all new recruitments have been halted. Additionally, we have discontinued many inefficient services, which has further reduced the need for personnel,” he explained.

CPC: No new recruitments; inefficient svcs. stopped  

<ul><li> Claims unpaid cost passed on to consumers via tariff revisions&nbsp;</li></ul> The Electricity Consumers’ Association (ECA) has called on the relevant authorities to ensure that electricity bills for streetlights are paid on time, claiming that the public is unfairly burdened by the cost. Speaking to The Daily Morning, the ECA General Secretary Sanjeewa Dhammika said that there are currently more than 700,000 streetlights across the country. He added that the responsibility for paying the electricity bills for these lights lies with institutions such as the Road Development Authority (RDA), and Local Government (LG) bodies (municipal councils, urban councils, and pradeshiya sabhas).“These streetlights use around 150 gigawatt hours of electricity each year. It costs about Rs. seven billion. But, the authorities responsible for paying these bills are not doing so properly. As a result, the unpaid cost is being passed on to regular electricity consumers through electricity tariff revisions. We have already written to the relevant authorities to ensure that these bills are settled on time," Dhammika noted.The Ceylon Electricity Board's Media Spokesperson, engineer Dhammike Wimalaratne was not available for comment.According to available data,street lighting consumes about 1.5% of the total demand for electricity in Sri Lanka. Most of the street lamps out of the estimated 700,000 installed are hung on medium voltage or low voltage poles used in the distribution network, and dedicated street lighting poles are limited to urban areas.

RDA/LG bodies: ‘Pay streetlight bills on time’: ECA

The Government has announced the introduction of a new bank account system named ‘Artha’&nbsp;aimed at securing the future of probationary, institutionalised, and street children.The initiative is designed to facilitate the provision of a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to 9,191 children, with a budgetary allocation of Rs. one billion for this year.Speaking at a press briefing yesterday (14), Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj stated that the programme seeks to ensure the protection of children until they are able to lead independent lives. The minister added: “Children who have been abandoned or orphaned due to various circumstances should receive the same protection, love, and opportunities for building their futures as any other child.”According to her, all individuals under the age of 18 will be considered eligible as children under the programme. In the case of institutionalised children, the allowance will be provided directly to the respective institutions to safeguard their right to education up to the age of 16.She further noted that 9,191 children in 356 Child Development Centres islandwide will benefit from the programme. Of the monthly Rs. 5,000 allowance, Rs. 3,000 will be directed to the institutions, while Rs. 2,000 will be deposited into the newly-established Artha accounts. The latter will be accessible to the beneficiary children once they reach 18 years of age.The programme to grant a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to children held in detention homes, child development centres or with a guardian and street children will commence today (15), Paulraj stated.&nbsp;She noted that institutional care is provided in detention homes and child development centres for children who do not have proper care and protection in the home that they live in, due to the loss of parents, the loss of custody, or even under the custody of both the mother and the father or one of them and also to orphaned and abandoned children.It has been reported that by the end of 2024, about 9,191 children are receiving residential care in 356 child development centres run by the Government, voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations throughout the country.&nbsp;Paulraj stated that under the programme, a sum of Rs. 3,000 will be provided to the respective development centre where the child is being hosted or to the guardian through the National Savings Bank (NSB) for education, health and other welfare expenses. Furthermore, a sum of Rs. 2,000 will be deposited monthly in a savings account in the NSB in favour of the child for future use, Paulraj added. Paulraj noted that the money will be deposited to the relevant accounts on the 10th of every month.

Controversial container release: Customs defends move as tra ...

Unauthorised constructions: Govt. entities told to inform authorities

Unauthorised constructions: Go ...

2025 first half: 13,554 kg narcotics seized

2025 first half: 13,554 kg nar ...

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishers arrested

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishe ...

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s ownership to be returned to Mahapola

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s owner ...

Fines: Traffic fines payment via GovPay in Sept.

Fines: Traffic fines payment v ...

CPC: No new recruitments; inefficient svcs. stopped

CPC: No new recruitments; inef ...

RDA/LG bodies: ‘Pay streetlight bills on time’: ECA

RDA/LG bodies: ‘Pay streetligh ...

‘Artha’: New bank acct. system for vulnerable children

‘Artha’: New bank acct. system ...

Unauthorised constructions: Govt. entities told to inform authorities

Unauthorised constructions: Go ...

2025 first half: 13,554 kg narcotics seized

2025 first half: 13,554 kg nar ...

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishers arrested

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishe ...

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s ownership to be returned to Mahapola

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s owner ...

Fines: Traffic fines payment via GovPay in Sept.

Fines: Traffic fines payment v ...

CPC: No new recruitments; inefficient svcs. stopped

CPC: No new recruitments; inef ...

RDA/LG bodies: ‘Pay streetlight bills on time’: ECA

RDA/LG bodies: ‘Pay streetligh ...

‘Artha’: New bank acct. system for vulnerable children

‘Artha’: New bank acct. system ...

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Unauthorised constructions: Govt. entities told to inform authorities

Unauthorised constructions: Go ...

2025 first half: 13,554 kg narcotics seized

2025 first half: 13,554 kg nar ...

Bringing the news paper to your fingertips

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishers arrested

IUU Poaching: 181 Indian fishe ...

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s ownership to be returned to Mahapola

COPE recommends: SLIIT’s owner ...

Fines: Traffic fines payment via GovPay in Sept.

Fines: Traffic fines payment v ...

CPC: No new recruitments; inefficient svcs. stopped

CPC: No new recruitments; inef ...