Mechanism in place to release containers without any checking If importers track record good: Minister

• Not a big issue, opposition has made it a hot topic for political gains
• Even in the NMRA, not all samples are checked if there are no issues in their past supplies

By Ajith Siriwardana   

In the wake of controversy over the release of 323 containers, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday that it is not a big issue and claimed that there is a mechanism to release containers to ease the congestion at the customs, if the importers’ past track record is good.   

He told the weekly briefing to announce cabinet decisions that the government has nothing to hide and that the opposition has made it a hot topic for political gains.

The Minister said this while responding to a question about the delay in the report of the committee appointed to look into the release of the containers.   

He said, even the National Medicine Regulatory Authority (NMRA) do not check all the samples if the suppliers had no issues in their past suppliers and their past track record is good. 

“We have nothing to hide. The opposition is making it a hot topic. There is usually a mechanism to release the containers to ease the congestion in the customs, if the past track record is good. That procedure is there in any place where the samples are checked. Even in the NMRA, not all the samples are checked if there are no issues in their past supplies. There is a mechanism to release the stocks. otherwise, it will take months,” he said.   

The Minister, however, assured that the report of the committee will be released.