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| Monday, 9 August 2004 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera The former UNF Government built a criminal culture in the country by allowing their supporters to smuggle many items into the country without paying Customs duties. A colossal amount of money which would have been collected by the Customs was lost by smuggling items to the country, said Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama while inspecting the destruction of Rs. 330 million worth of smuggled cigarettes at the premises of Trico Maritime (Pvt) Limited in Colombo on Saturday. The Rs. 330 million worth smuggled cigarettes were destroyed in the presence of Minister Amunugama, Customs Director General Sarath Jayatilleke, Baggage and Narcotics Customs Director S. Ramachandran and Trico Maritime Limited Chairman Ari Kannangara. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's Government will take action to prevent the smuggling of various items to the country. "Our Government will destroy the criminal culture of this country and build a peaceful nation where we can live without fear," the Finance Minister said. The UNF Government never helped the innocent public. They only looked after their relations and their supporters who are involved in smuggling items to the country, Minister Amunugama added. The Finance Minister emphasised that Customs, Excise and Income Tax Departments bring revenue to the country. "Our Government will protect the employees of these three departments and assist them." Minister Amunugama paid a glowing tribute to senior and junior staff of the Customs who assisted to detect the smuggling of cigarettes to the country. These smuggled cigarettes were brought to Colombo mainly from Pakistan and Dubai concealed in normal consignments such as rice, food items, potatoes and food drinks smuggled by passengers in their unaccompanied baggages. Customs were very hard on smuggling activities and the result of which shows marked increase in revenue from local produced cigarettes, a senior Customs officer said. Customs Assistant Directors K. A. Dharmasena, Upali Perera, Chief Charges Officer Mahinda Kalpage. Assistant Charges officers L.M. Jayasekera, A.T. Walawage and Customs Superintendent Sisira Silva were also present. |
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