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Customs seize Italian goods worth millions sent by SL expats

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22 September 2020 07:02 pm - 9     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Italian goods such as cheese, liquor and pasta worth more than a million rupees sent by members of the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Rome, Milan, Florence and Bologna to their local relatives by abusing a special ‘door-to-door’ courier facility was busted by the Customs recently.

Customs officials seized a large stock of foreign liquor, Italian food items like pasta, sauces, cheese, specialized cooking oils and many other varieties of consumer goods including candy and sweets worth more than Rs.50 million, that arrived in personalized cargo baggage during the past several months when a Covid-19 lock-down was in effect.

The variety of seized goods was exposed to the media at the Customs Rank Container Terminal in Orugodawatta on Monday with the participation of top Customs officials including its Chief Rtd. Maj. Gen. Vijitha Ravipriya.

Additional Director General of Customs and its spokesman Sunil Jayaratne told the media that the expats had exploited the special ‘door-to-door’ courier facility to send personalized goods from a foreign country to Sri Lanka by secretly including prohibited items like liquor in excessive amounts.

He said usually any Sri Lankan expat could send lawful consumer goods like food, beverages, clothing, gift items and even a couple of choicest foreign liquor bottles for their kith and kin. But in the recent weeks many were seemed to have abused this quota and had sent large amounts of foreign liquor in the personal cargo baggage.

Customs Director General Rtd. Maj. Gen. Vijitha Ravipiriya said in line with the government’s recent policy decision to curtail imports of foreign goods these items falls under prohibited material.

Senior Customs officials Additional Director General D.G. Senanayake and Director C. Perinpanayagam were also present. (Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana)

Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe


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  Comments - 9

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Nilanthi Jayawardena Tuesday, 22 September 2020 08:25 PM

    Look at his happy face looking at all those goods, especially the liquor and cheese. he knows they are going in his pocket.

    George Dharmasiri Wednesday, 30 September 2020 01:32 PM

    What a low down comment. You could see the liquor, cheese etc are sent in excess of the limit. It shouldn't be a money making racket. The sender should stick to the limits allowed by law in Sri Lanka.

    Damik Tuesday, 22 September 2020 08:27 PM

    Please cease large items such as illegally imported luxury cars by Vehicles Lanka Pvt Ltd also...

    Arnold Tuesday, 22 September 2020 08:53 PM

    What will they do with the booty? Poor "Rata viruvo" sending food to their kith and kin OR trying to make a few rupees by selling them.

    Lal Wednesday, 23 September 2020 07:51 AM

    Major General should consider instructing Customs Authorities to allow clearing what is permissible out of each parcel and call upon recipients to pay due taxes immediately by cash to release balance goods OR provide an acceptable Bank Guarantee or suitable gurantee .

    Sambo Wednesday, 23 September 2020 08:13 AM

    So does that mean our kith and kin who lives abroad cannot send us even a piece of cheese, canned fruits or vegetables or any other groceries for our consumption. Do we in Sri lanka only have to eat dhal, sprats and canned fish while these uneducated so called politicians enjoy the best in life.

    Kamala darshan Wednesday, 23 September 2020 08:17 AM

    Real beggars in srilanka ...

    Patriot Wednesday, 23 September 2020 10:32 AM

    It is sent by expatriates with hard earned money to their families , so please give back to owners but with a price, nothing should be given free.

    Berty paranavithana Wednesday, 23 September 2020 12:05 PM

    What is thos these are sending for their relatives these not koken ice these officers taking from revenge from nomal peaple this is sheam


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