Sri Lankan to chair a top committee in World Customs for the first time [March 13 2014]

For the first time a Sri Lankan has been elected to chair the Harmonised Systems Committee of World Customs Organisation. Tharake Senevirathne, Director of Policy planning and Research of the Sri Lanka Customs has been elected as the chairperson of this Committee, according to the Media spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Customs.

This appointment has been proposed by the representative of the European Union and seconded by the representative of Australia at its sessions held in Brussels, Belgium. This is the first time an officer from Asian region has been appointed.

Harmonised System is the internationally standardized system of names and numbers for classifying traded products maintained and developed by the World Custom Organisation. The main purpose and scope of the Harmonised Systems Committee is to interpret the Harmonised Systems legal texts in the most appropriate manner to ensure a uniform classification of goods and its application, bringing in amendments to the Harmonised Systems legal texts to reflect developments in technology and changes in trade patterns as well as other needs of HS users.