President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday instructed the final report of Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCOI) on Sri Lanka Customs to be referred to Parliament. The final report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry was handed over to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by Presidential Commission of Inquiry chairman and Supreme Court Judge, Justice Shiran Gunaratne at the President’s House in Colombo yesterday morning.
This report includes recommendations on how the corporate, administrative and operational processes of Sri Lanka Customs can be effectively and efficiently carried out in the discharge of responsibilities.
A six-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry was appointed by an Extraordinary Gazette Notification on February 24, 2021 to investigate and report on various allegations and alleged irregularities in the Customs.
Court of Appeal Judge Priyantha Fernando, High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte, Central Bank Deputy Governor K.M.M. Siriwardena (current Finance Secretary), Senior Adviser (Trade) Dr. Sanath Jayanetti and former Additional Director General of Sri Lanka Customs P.A.Dias were the other members of the commission chaired by Supreme Court Judge Shiran Gunaratne.
After nearly a year of consultation with Customs officials, Customs Unions, government and private sector officials, clients and the public, the Commission has prepared a final report comprises of 117 recommendations and 530 pages.
