Sri Lanka Customs celebrates bicentenary

by Ananda KANNANGARA

We have also taken stringent measures to eliminate smuggling and other malpractices that are involved in the imports and exports sectors in addition to increase the state revenue from various taxes - Customs Director General sarath Jayathilake.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa being escoreted to the venue

The Sri Lanka Customs which was established during the colonial period in 1809 celebrated its bicentenary last week at the BMICH under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

In an interview with the Director General of Customs Sarath Jayathilake about the current situation of the Sri Lanka Customs and also the progress achieved during the past 200 years, he said among a number of development plans initiated by the Government in the recent past for the benefit of people in the country, the abolishing of Export Tax on certain locally manufactured products to encourage exporters is commendable.

The Director General also said while encouraging local exporters, the Government also increases the import duty on certain items, from time to time to popularise local products in the open market and also to encourage producers.

He said the Customs has made special arrangements to crack down on drug smugglers and also to seize counterfeit currencies, banned drugs, cigarettes, gold items, banned agricultural products, medicinal plants, endemic animals, birds and fish that are concealed in baggage.

History

He also said in order to avoid numerous irregularities, that could happen within the premises, security officers who are deployed to examine baggage of passengers during their departures and arrivals are not placed at the same check points for a long period.

"If any banned item which belongs to a local resident is detected at the airport, custom officers have been empowered even to check the residence of such person whether more items were earlier imported and hidden at the premises," he said.

Talking about the history of the Sri Lanka Customs, the Director General said the Customs was established during the colonial era and it was earlier named the Ceylon Harbour. The duties of the airport too were handled by the Harbour.

"Even during the British rule, the Harbour was empowered to recover the import and export duties as well as various other levies imposed by the Government".

The Customs history reveals that the Principal Collector of Customs had to report to the Colonial Secretary and the Governor General, and after abolition of the Governor General system, the Principal Collector of Customs was brought under the purview of the Minister of Finance.

He further said a record revenue of Rs. 429.1 billion is targeted by the Customs during the twelve month period of 2009.

He said the Sri Lanka Customs will go to a new head office building shortly with modern facilities and 99 per cent construction work of the building has now been completed.

Api Wenuwen Api

Referring to this year's bi-centennial celebrations held at the BMICH, he said the event was celebrated with issuing a commemorative stamp, the first day cover, a commemorative coin to the value of Rs. 200 and also a magazine with special articles related to the anniversary.

An exhibition, depicting the history of Customs was also held to coincide with the anniversary celebrations.

"In addition, monies, collected from employees were presented to the `Api Wenuwen Api' fund and a cheque was also presented to the hospital for kidney patients.

Funds were also presented for the construction of the Morawewa Technical Institute.