Container incident: Statement from former Customs Chief Nonis to the Parliamentary Committee

The Parliamentary Special Committee investigating the incident of releasing 323 containers from the Colombo Port without physical inspection has reportedly questioned former Customs Director General Sarath Nonis and recorded his statements. It is further understood that he is scheduled to be questioned again tomorrow (11) regarding this matter.

According to sources, the former Customs Director General has stated before the committee that some measures had to be taken to prevent the container congestion that existed at the time of the incident.

The Parliamentary Special Committee questioned the current Customs Director General Seevali Arukkgoda as well as several trade union representatives in recent days regarding the incident of releasing these containers. It is also reported that representatives of a special committee that previously investigated this incident are scheduled to be questioned in the coming days. The incident of releasing the containers was reported in February last year.

Customs trade unions allege that among the released containers were those with 'red labels'. The incident of releasing these containers was widely discussed both inside and outside Parliament in recent days. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Special Committee investigating the incident is the Minister of Justice and National Integration, Attorney-at-Law Harshaana Nanayakkara.

This Parliamentary Special Committee was appointed at the request of opposition members. It is stated that after the establishment of the committee, it is scheduled to submit its report to Parliament within three months from the date of its first meeting.