Customs Dept, a major revenue earner - President
Danushka Godakumbura
“Customs officers should render an honest, sincere and dedicated
service and strive to rake in the maximum possible revenue to state
coffers,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he presented appointment
letters to a batch of 280 Customs Superintendents and Inspectors at a
ceremony at Temple Trees yesterday.
The President said Customs officers are serving the state rather than
any individual and as such, they should render their service in a
disciplined manner that would bring honour to their country as well as
their parents who nurtured them.
“At a time when the country is rapidly moving on the development path
after ending a 30 year war, the Customs Department has been able to earn
a large portion of vital revenue to the state.”
He hoped that the Customs would be able to earn a revenue of Rs 570
billion for state coffers this year.
The President who recalled the previous government moves to privatize
the Customs Department said it was thwarted due to the dedicated efforts
made by the Customs officers themselves.
If the privatization effort succeeded, the government would have lost
the Customs Department which was a main source of income to the state.
Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena,
Director General of Customs Neville Gunawardena and Deputy Secretary to
the Treasury P Abeysekara were also present on the occasion.
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