Sri Lanka Customs has provided necessary support and evidence to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding the ongoing investigation into the controversial release of 323 shipping containers earlier this year.
The revenue and enforcement agency added that a post-clearance audit of the containers in question is currently underway.
Commenting to The Daily Morning, Customs Spokesperson, Additional Director General (ADG) Seevali Arukgoda said: "We've provided all support and evidence required by the CID regarding the matter."
He also said that Customs has already begun a post-clearance audit related to these consignments. “Each Customs declaration includes a condition stating that all clearance processes are subject to post-audit. Post-auditing is a standard tool used in trade facilitation. Since it’s not practical to physically inspect every single container, the global trend has shifted from pre-clearance inspections to post-clearance audits. Every consignment, regardless of whether it was examined before clearance or not, is subject to post-audit. We carry out these audits as needed, and we have a dedicated Post-Clearance Audit Directorate," Arukgoda pointed out.
When queried as to whether they have received the final report of the committee which looked into the questionable container release, he said that they are yet to receive it. “We haven’t received the report yet. It isn't possible to comment on its recommendations when we're yet to receive it," he said.
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.
According to the report prepared by the said committee, 999 high-risk containers were released without inspection on 13 occasions, between July 2024 and January 2025. The committee states 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.
It directly criticised the Director General of Customs for approving the release without following due process, stating that the powers granted under the Customs Ordinance have been exceeded.
Several recommendations have been made, including an immediate halt to the current container release method used by the internal committee, a full post-audit to calculate losses, and a forensic audit of all containers released under the disputed system. The report also suggested using AI technology to improve container scanning and proposes better information sharing between importers and Customs to improve transparency.