Customs Union says Unscrupulous businessmen ruin Pepper trade

By Dayaseeli Liyanage   

The Pepper market has been ruined as a result of a few unscrupulous businessmen taking cover under the same gazette that has been used by those who imported garbage from foreign countries to Sri Lanka, All Ceylon Customs Service Union (ACCSU) alleged yesterday.   

ACCSU General Secretary A.A. Gunatilaka in a letter addressed to the Finance Minister said that the gazette that was issued by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Finance Minister in 2013 has to be abolished as it has allowed  businessmen to harm the economy and the environment and thereby the whole country instead of facilitating lawful businesses.   

He alleged that the Gazette has allowed people to import goods into the “hubs” set up in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone, Hambantota harbour and airport, circumventing the Customs Ordinance, Exchange Control Act and Imports and Exports (Control) Act.   

The Union said that some businessmen had re-exported imported pepper citing them as Sri Lankan pepper and that ruined the pepper industry in the country.   

Some businessmen had re-exported imported pepper citing them as Sri Lankan pepper