Wednesday, 31 December 2003  
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Award scheme for Customs House Agents

by Ramani Kangaraarachchi

A special Award Programme for Customs House Agents (CHA) will be launched by the Sri Lanka Customs shortly. Customs Cargo Clearing Agents who are registered under Section 115 of the Customs Ordinance and competent with the laws and regulations of Customs, will be eligible for this award.


Director General Customs Sarath Jayatilake

For the first time in its 100 year history a scheme has been introduced for the benifit of cargo clearing agents, Director General Sri Lanka Customs Sarath Jayatilake said.

This scheme is being introduced in three phases. Under the three phases the Customs Clearing Agent Organisation who meet the stipulated criteria will be entitled to the Special Award Programme. Clearing cargo for third parties, registered with the Customs for more than five years, demonstrated ability and commitment to professional standards.

Having employed more than 10 and 8 CHA pass holders who have passed the examination conducted by Customs Department and had no adverse records had submitted more than 200 and 50 Cusadecs through their Customs House Agent to the Customs Department for the year 2003 are the stipulated requirments respectively for the three phases.

Meanwhile, the Special Award Holders can enjoy a number of benifits under these three phases. Accordingly the CHA passes of qualified CHA holders will be valid for three years upon payment of applicable fees in advance, they need not submit bank guarantee for Rs. 50,000 and produce bank statements and telephone bills as before.

Director General Customs Sarath Jayatilake said that as another measure to upgrade the systems to suit the international standards the Customs also has decided not to renew the identity cards issued to employees of Customs House Agents who have not yet passed their examination conducted over the last 10 years.

According to Customs statistics there are 1700 registered organisations as Customs House Agents-Customs Cargo Clearing & Forwarding agents at present. Over 6000 Customs identity cards have been issued todate.

Of this 5500 have passed the customs examination and about 500 have yet to pass the competency based three hour written test examination.

However Customs have suspended this in order that aggrieved parties can make an appeal to the Assistant Director of Customs-CHA Units so that the issue of trainee identity cards can be extended on a yearly basis.

Clearing agents have requested to waive this requirment to pass the examination to those who need not be customs competent since they need to employ messengers and delivery boys who visit Customs offices to hand over documents. They can enter Port to visit customs offices without Custom identity badges sources said.

Immediate Past Chairman of the Association of Clearing and Forwarding Agents (ACFA) M. S. M. Niyas said , that the newly introduced Special Award scheme is very challenging to CHA and Cargo Clearing agents who are used to the traditional method for over 100 years.

With the introduction of valid passes for three years to those who qualify will be a great advantage where it will improve productivity by reducing time waste in Custom offices.

" We now experience One Day Customs Clearance Service" averaging 60 per cent 350 shipments out of a daily 600 shipments and this can be further improved with the introduction of Sri Lanka Automated Cargo Clearance System, Niyas said.

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