Former Minister Udaya Gammanpila says that the Sri Lanka Customs has informed him in writing that the documents containing the information of 323 containers released from the port without customs inspection are not currently in the possession of the Sri Lanka Customs. He said this while addressing the media.
He further said this while addressing the media.
We sent a letter to the Customs on February 8, 2025 under the Right to Information Act to inquire about what was in the containers released without inspection. On April 3, 2025, we received a “Where are you going – coconuts in a bag” reply. We asked how many of the containers sent without inspection were recommended to be sent on the red route and how many were recommended to be sent on the orange route.
Instead of answering the questions asked, a copy of the press release issued on January 29 has been sent. The letter also states, “I kindly inform you that the documents containing the information you have requested are not currently in the possession of Sri Lanka Customs.” It is an unnatural situation that Customs does not have the documents required to answer the questions about how many of the containers sent without inspection were recommended to be sent through the red route and how many were recommended to be sent through the orange route. It is clear that there is a big secret that Customs is trying to hide here.
The danger of releasing 323 containers from the port without inspection on January 18, 2025 was revealed to the country by the Customs officials themselves. At that time, Minister Bimal came before the media like a hero and said that they were released on his orders. Although the port was entrusted to him, the Customs was not handed over. The Customs is under the President as the Minister of Finance. What right does Minister Bimal have to give orders to the customs that do not belong to him?
It is true that Minister Bimal Ratnayake is the chairman of the cabinet sub-committee appointed to find solutions to the container congestion. The committee’s job is to submit a report with its recommendations to the cabinet, not to give orders to the Director General of Customs.
Since those containers were not inspected, they cannot answer the question of what was in them. We believe that these containers contained weapons and ammunition. Because it was after January 18, 2025, when these containers were released, that the shootings began to increase by leaps and bounds. The underworld, whether it had hatred or desire, had become inactive without weapons and ammunition. With the release of the containers, the underworld also became active. Now there is hardly a day without shooting. We say that the blood of every death is on Minister Bimal’s hands.”