loss of Rs 6130 million during the time period of 2013-2016 incurred by the Sri Lanka Customs due to two leading palm oil companies was brought to the attention of the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) which was held yesterday (03).

An audit conducted by the Auditor General’s Department revealed that the loss of money was due to the negligence on the part of Sri Lanka Customs officials having failed to clear specific goods under the Harmonized System (HS Code) within the relevant frame.

Although the Secretary to the Treasury and Ministry of Finance Mr. Attygalle has already taken measures to investigate and recover the losses incurred by the Government due to these three companies, the Committees directed the Sri Lanka Customs to also take immediate action on this regard to which the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs Major General Vijitha Ravipriya agreed.

Director General of the Sri Lanka Customs and its high-ranking officials, Officials of the Ministry of Finance and officials of the Auditor General’s Department marked their presence at the Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Hon. (Prof.) Tissa Vitharana.

It was also highlighted that since 2013, the government has lost a revenue of Rs. 220 million because importers have registered imported vehicles as dual-purpose vehicles for special purposes. Accordingly, it was revealed that a minimum of Rs.1300 million amounting to 3 million each (443 × 3) could have been levied for 443 specialized vans during the periods from 2010-2019