Customs seize large turmeric consignment

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

A large consignment of turmeric worth over Rs.40 million,  which had arrived in the country concealed within a 40-foot container  filled with potatoes from India, was seized by the Sri Lanka Customs  yesterday.   

The Customs Cargo Examination Directorate officials on  suspicion detained a container that arrived in the Colombo Port on  Monday evening for inspection when the importer had come to clear the  goods on the same night.   

Additional Director General of Customs Seevali Arukgoda  said the goods which had been declared as potatoes, were brought into RCT  Yard in Orugodawatta for inspection last evening. Amidst 22 metric  tons of potatoes, about 9.5 metric tons of turmeric fingers had been carefully packed and stored in the far interior of the container.     

A senior official from the Cargo Examination Directorate  said the seized turmeric was found to be of high quality and has a  market value of about Rs.40 million.   

Senior Director of Customs Sapumal Jayawardena, Senior  Deputy Director H B G Sumathipala and Deputy Director Shashika  Kumarasinghe of the Cargo Examinations Directorate are conducting  investigations on the instructions of Director General of Customs P. B.  Sarath Nonis.