Customs target Rs. 427 bn this year

by Ananda KANNANGARA

A record revenue of Rs. 427 billion will be targeted by the Sri Lanka Customs during this year, Sri Lanka Customs, Director General Sarath Jayathilake told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

He made these observations at a meeting held in Colombo to create public awareness about the August 25 (Tuesday) bicentennial celebrations of the Sri Lanka Customs, scheduled to be held at the BMICH at 10 a.m. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest on the occasion. The Sri Lanka Customs was established in June, 1809 by the then British rulers.

The Sri Lanka Customs, which was established during the colonial era was earlier named the Ceylon Harbour and the duties of the airport too were handled by it.

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

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.

The Director General of Customs said the Sri Lanka Customs will get a new Head Office building shortly with modern facilities and 99 per cent construction work of the building has been completed.