Video: DG Customs was victim of misuse of power: JVP

28 May 2015 03:50 pm Views - 13245

The Director General of Customs was compelled to resign as a result of undue influence being brought to bear on him by a government minister who was engaged in the business of importing and exporting dried ericanuts , the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) charged today.

JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti told a media briefing that this minister had used the power given to him by his office to influence the former DG of Customs to help him to import dried ericanuts from Indonesia before reloading them onto different containers and importing them to India using the concessions granted to Sri Lanka by India.

He said the minister in question, who hails from the |North Western Province, had no particular political affiliation and was often seen hobnobbing with both government and opposition folds.

MP Handunnetti said this was not the only reasons for the resignation of the Customs Director General as there had been more political influence used to get 15 containers of glyphosate, a banned agro-chemical released from customs while undue influence had also been applied with regards to obtaining licenses for the importation of used vehicles.

Mr. Handunnetti said conflicts such as these between politicians and state officials had led to a lack of trust between both parties as well as caused several serious economic issues. He said when such activities are highlighted the business community loses interest in investing in new businesses and therefore the country suffers in the long run.(Yohan Perera and Sanath Desmond)