Customs to introduce best practices in imports
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The Customs Department will introduce the best practices in imports,
warehouse bonding and priority clearing in the near future by
computerizing all procedures which would minimize manual work and cost,
said Director General Customs Sarath Jayatilake.
He was speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the International
Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL) at the Taj Samudra Hotel
yesterday.
Jayatilake said that the present system in the department is too
complicated and the department is saddled with high costs. The Customs
is doing a gap analysis to improve this system and called upon the trade
chambers to make it a success.
The Chief Executive Officer, ICCSL Gamini Peiris said that the ICCSL
was closely associated with the Customs in the issuance and receipt of
ATA Carnet Certificates which is an internationally recognized Customs
document accepted in Asia, Africa, America and the European Union.
It enables the holder to send goods to foreign countries as
Commercial Samples, Exhibits for Trade Fairs and exhibitions and as
professional equipment, duty and tax free.
The Carnet is popularly known as the passport for goods which is one
of the best examples of private and public partnership. The holder
benefits by not having to post securities, guarantees or bonds at
various entry points. The holder also does not have to carry a large
amount of foreign currency. The customs on the other hand benefits by
receiving all relevant information regarding an importation in one
document. It saves time, energy and money to all parties concerned, he
said.
Peiris called upon members to obtain the Certificate of Origin issued
by the ICCSL and in the future the ICCSL would obtain membership in the
Commercial Crime Services of ICC to assist the business community.
At present there is no effective mechanism to find the credibility of
prospective buyer or seller.
The CCS with its global connections undertakes to provide such
information to its clients. He said that when a cargo vessel goes
missing due to piracy or some other fraudulent act the CCS does the
investigations to locate the missing shipment.
ICCSL also collaborates with the Legal and Social Development
Foundation to hold examinations of the Institute of Arbitration of
Singapore which is a positive measure to bring down the costs borne by
candidates who otherwise would have to travel to Singapore. The
certificate issued by them would greatly enhance the chances of
migration, he said.
The incumbent Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce Sri
Lanka (ICCSL) Tissa Jayaweera was unanimously re-elected to serve
another term at the Annual General Meeting. The five Vice Chairmen
elected include Granwille Perera, Navaz Caffoor, T. Someswaran Mangala
P.B. Yapa and M. Z. M. Ghouse. |