323 containers did not belong to WP Governor Hanif Yusoof: SL Customs

29 January 2025 08:53 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 16 Bookmark

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Colombo, January 29 (Daily Mirror)- The Sri Lanka Customs today denied allegations that the recently released 323 containers belonged to Expolanka Holdings Limited, which is headed by Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof.

It said that the 323 containers in question were released by the Screening Unit which was appointed on 18 July, 2024 as a solution to the container traffic congestion and that it was not possible for weapons, gold and narcotics to enter the country or for any losses in the Customs duties.

A statement issued by the Costoms said that the containers were released by the Screening Unit under the relevant criteria as per the advice of the committee appointed by the Cabinet to find solutions to the container traffic congestion and also considering the advice by the President and the committee chair Minister Bimal Ratnayake on 12 January 2025.

The statement added that the action taken by the committee helped to ease the container traffic congestion to some extent and thereby a large number of importers were able to release their containers in a short time under low costs.

Sri Lanka Customs said that the released containers did not include any containers imported on behalf of Expolanka Holdings Limited and that it was not possible for weapons, gold and narcotics to enter the country or for any losses in the Customs duties.

Comments - 16

Daya Wednesday, 29 January 2025 09:08 PM

He is no more in Expolanka group, I presume. Why all these drama. The whole country knows how containers came and went during previous regimes.

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Hassan Thursday, 30 January 2025 01:23 PM

Yes completely, even if container belong to Expo. He is not a part of it. Expo belong to SG holdings Global from Japan. I didn't know how this country can be developed. Any lie they believe. It's true he founded the company but it no more belong to them.

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OVERHAULING ALL PUBLIC DEPTS TO ENSURE ALL STAFF WORK FOR THE HOURS THEY ARE PAID. Wednesday, 29 January 2025 09:18 PM

WHAT WAS THE ISSUE IN SPOT CHECKING SOME OF THESE CONTAINERS PRIOR TO LEAVING THE COMPOUND??. JUST TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES, THEY DO THIS ALL OVER THE WORLD. 323 CONTAINERS, WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW WHY THAT MANY CONTAINERS HAD BUILT UP, HOW MANY STAFF DOES CUSTOMS HAVE IN TOTAL AND WHAT ARE THEIR POSITIONS AND HOW MANY SUPPORT LABOURERS THEY EMPLOY TO HELP BRING OUT GOOD FROM CONTAINERS TO ENABLE THEM TO GET INSIDE AND CHECK GOODS IN THE CRATES, WHICH ARE USUALLY THE NORM WHEN LOADING IN CONTAINERS, GOODS ARE PACKED IN CARDBOARD BOXES PUT INTO CRATES WITH PAPER STRIP FILLING IF NECESSARY AND CLOSED. WOULD BE AN IDEA HANDING OUT JOB DESCRIPTIONS END WITH AND OTHERS DUTIES AS AND WHEN THE NEED ARISES, TO ENSURE IN AN EMERGENCY STAFF CAN BE MOVED AROUND IF THEY HAVE ANY EMERGENCY WITH A STAFF MEMBER ABSENT.

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Bandara Wednesday, 29 January 2025 09:45 PM

What a lie! If you know it does not belong to Expo Lanka, you should also know who it belongs to. Also, how do you know that no weapons or drugs were inside? If you have that kind of superpower, why not release the rest of the containers without inspections?

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B P Wednesday, 29 January 2025 09:51 PM

Without going around the bush, tell us the owners. May be correct, but how can they say that it was not possible for weapons, narcotics......to enter the country.

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Upulpb Wednesday, 29 January 2025 09:57 PM

It will be better if Custms authorities issue an statement with details on this since public see a lot of false accusations. There is a YouTube news video claiming these containers contained Drugs and weapons and were released due to the influence of Tiran Alles

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Chan Wednesday, 29 January 2025 11:53 PM

Prez shouldn't have appointed this guy... he's causing unwanted attention and even the doubt is enough to sway certain demographics of Sri Lanka

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Yoga Thursday, 30 January 2025 05:26 AM

Ha ha, who forced you to say so? Smoke without a fire? It was the customs officers who exposed the scam earlier!

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Dr Tissa Fernando Thursday, 30 January 2025 08:55 AM

Customs officer making the statement was appointed by NPP and the containers were released on NPP government instructions. Dilkushani is silent on this matter.

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Dilakshan Seneviratne Thursday, 30 January 2025 11:19 AM

I think Dilukshani has had enough of getting into debates “with people who are not really interested in uplifting SL to the level of advanced democracies “. It’s better to spend one’s time and energy on more productive matters. If Dilukshani had even in some small way contributed to the election of an honest government, that will deliver the promised system change, then hurrah. It’s left to them to deliver.

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Adwani Thursday, 30 January 2025 10:53 AM

All the fools instead of developing the country they act like barbarians of past era. We lost reputation as tea and spices exporter, we are loosing reputation as logistic hub, etc. We keeping on loosing our status in the international trade.

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navratne willamune Thursday, 30 January 2025 11:18 AM

clear statement was given by a minister about this matter, some will always have doubts.dont want to know the facts

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Mk Thursday, 30 January 2025 12:43 PM

If this was the previous regime, NPP wouldv said its connected to the rajapakshas.

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EMILY JOACK Thursday, 30 January 2025 02:13 PM

without all this talking HOW MUCH DID Mr MAHINDA loot from us

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Jayantha Silva Thursday, 30 January 2025 03:08 PM

There are some who are waiting to discredit the high profile appointee Mr. Yusoof out of sheer jealousy. Appointing him as WP Govenor was a great achievement of the current government. On the other hand, there is absolutely no excuse for releasing 323 containers without following due process.

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Nalin Fernando Thursday, 30 January 2025 04:14 PM

The clarification note is welcome. But it is somewhat incomplete. If the following details are added I think it will create some extended transparency. - name of the importer/s - content (if not illegal) - value of import duty - confirmation of collection all import duties and other charges. - -

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