Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
Last Updated : 2024-05-19 23:42:00
1 January 2024 06:15 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, Jan. 1 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka Customs has made its highest revenue generation in history, a recorded Rs.970 billion last year with only 990 staffers in hand and with restrictions on highest income on imports of automobiles still in place.
The Customs spokesperson Senior Director Seevali Arukgoda yesterday said that this was 109% of the amended revenue targets given to them by the Ministry of Finance, which was Rs.893 billion.
The original revenue target set for the SL Customs in the beginning of 2023 was at Rs.1,217 billion but owing to the unstable economic situation prevailing in the country the target was brought down to Rs.893 million.
According to the spokesperson, the previous highest amount of revenue collected by Customs was Rs.923 billion in 2023 and the revenue generated in 2022 was considerably low at Rs.708 billion.
In 2018 the revenue generated from automobile imports was Rs.180 billion when no restrictions were in place, but the figure stays at a recorded low of Rs.10 billion last year.
He said it was remarkable to note how they achieved this figure last year with only 990 staff members in the entire Customs, when the stipulated number of employees should be 1,547. “We are performing our duties with a short of one-third of employees at present,” he said.
The best performing divisions of the Customs last year were Central Valuation Directorate, which is by 400%, Preventive Directorate, Revenue Task Force (RTF), Central Cargo Examination Directorate and Post Clearance Audit Directorate.
He said the planning and action plans introduced by the Director General of Customs had helped to achieve this outstanding target.
Ruwan Monday, 01 January 2024 06:47 PM
Ranil's efforts are starting to kick in. This is truly remarkable. They can earn even more if they strive harder. Well done.
Nicole Phillips Monday, 01 January 2024 07:20 PM
How do they get that number 1570 stipulated carde.... is this a joke... we dont need pencil pushers everywhere and that is what every political party has done over the years.. they have stuffed the government run entities with pencil pushers for votes... now, we the tax payer has to bear the brunt of this lunacy... and before anything, investigate the asset declaration of those 990 officers. Guaranteed you will find that all of them need to pay tax
Nalaka Monday, 01 January 2024 07:25 PM
Inland Revenue and Customs can impose as much as government wants and increase revenue. But the sad thing is that the already suffering people will eventually bear the cost of these and this hard earned money is being handled by a gang of corrupt politicians who have lost mandate of the people. This is the year to change this.
Do not employ any more or efficiency will go down Monday, 01 January 2024 07:26 PM
If operations in customs happening well, no point employing another 50% to make the number 1500. It will only cause lay abouts to increase, and more chance for scams.
Piyal Raj Monday, 01 January 2024 07:31 PM
Why don't the CBSL and the finance ministry have the same extent of hurry to impose high end property taxes on the ultra-rich population of the country. The whole burden of recovery is being borne by the ordinary people of the country.
Sambo Monday, 01 January 2024 07:48 PM
The custom officers for sure has earned half of this amount to their pockets.
Poor guy Monday, 01 January 2024 08:46 PM
Ban imports of more items we will get more revenue. More smuggling more money
Spartacus Monday, 01 January 2024 08:32 PM
This revenue can be doubled if the involvement of Customs Officers in various rackets including those items cleared by racketeers on Kilogram basis thru customs by bribing them are caught.
Wiraj Monday, 01 January 2024 08:50 PM
This surely could have been double if not for the underhand deals by many officers.
Jamis Monday, 01 January 2024 10:41 PM
Customs has always been known as the most corrupt of places. Have they stopped the corruption? Is that why the revenue is high?
Ram Tuesday, 02 January 2024 04:16 AM
How much did the staffers make by way of their share as per the Customs Department practices?
Premalal Perera Tuesday, 02 January 2024 08:52 AM
A good chunk of the collection has been due to the affects of inflation especially the resulting depreciation of the currency. If you factor in those, the actual collection could be lower.
Nimal Tuesday, 02 January 2024 11:13 AM
If you eliminated the rampant corruption within SL Customs Dept, it would solve most of the country's financial problems.
Big Boast. Tuesday, 02 January 2024 05:04 PM
The collection does not include what has been slipped into the pockets of the 990 Staffers ?
Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.
Reply To:
Name - Reply Comment
The state-run loss-making State Mortgage & Investment Bank (SMIB) has reveale
US authorities are currently reviewing the manifest of every cargo aboard MV
On March 26, a couple arriving from Thailand was arrested with 88 live animal
According to villagers from Naula-Moragolla out of 105 families 80 can afford
17 May 2024 - 0 - 134
