Controversial clearing of 323 containers sparks delays at Colombo Port: Opposition MP

Colombo, June 11 (Daily Mirror) - The decision by Customs officers to subject all containers to stringent inspections following the controversial clearing of 323 containers has led to significant delays at the Colombo Port, Opposition MP Dayasiri Jayasekera said.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP revealed that it now takes at least seven hours to clear a single container, compared to just two hours prior to the recent incident involving the 323 containers.

“Customs officers have resorted to rigid checks after receiving stern warnings from higher authorities in the wake of the container clearance controversy. We urge the Customs officials not to be intimidated by pressure from government higher-ups,” MP Jayasekera told reporters at a media briefing.

He also dismissed the recent statement by Customs media spokesman Seevali Arukgoda, who claimed that the containers did not contain weapons and that there had been no directives from top officials to release them. MP Jayasekera raised concerns about how the containers were cleared without passing through the 'red channel' a system powered by artificial intelligence that flags high-risk shipments based on importer history and other factors.

“The AI system had recommended the red channel clearance. How, then, were these containers released bypassing that requirement?” he asked, highlighting the need for accountability.