Sources in the Customs Department state that due to political pressure, a situation has arisen where it is impossible to collect the fine of Rs.19 crore imposed by the Sri Lanka Customs on a leading company for illegally imported 607,550 kg (607 metric tons) of brown sugar worth over Rs.29 crore.
After the relevant fine was reduced to 13 crores according to the request of the Ministry of Finance, a top official of the political authority informally informed the Customs Department to consider the fine, which has led to a serious crisis.
According to the information received by the officials of Sri Lanka Customs Post Clearance and Audit Division, this sugar stock which was seized last January was packed in 270 bundles of 50 kg of white sugar in 45 containers and the total weight of the sugar stock is 1,215 metric tons.
After the imposition of the fine, the relevant importer rejected the appeal to the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry has been informed to reduce the fine by 6 crores for the second time and again a secretary of the highest political authority has informed to reconsider the fine.
The managing director of the fined company and other companies belonging to him have been fined more than 7 crore rupees on 23 previous occasions for customs offences. , also noted that the owner released the consignment of sugar subject to forfeiture of Rs 189,293,778 in consideration of the nature of the offence, loss of revenue to the Government and grievances of the importer during the customs investigation.
In order to protect the local producer and save foreign exchange in this country, restrictions have been imposed on the import of brown sugar to Sri Lanka through the Gazette No. 2262/17 of the Import and Export Control Act dated 11.01.2022 and due to the importer not having the money to pay the 189 million rupees, on the importer’s request, Rs. 190 million bank guarantee and released the sugar stock, the customs said.
( lankadeepa)
