MV X-Press Pearl Will not permit removal of scrap metal until due taxes paid: Siyambalapitiya

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama   

Sri Lanka said yesterday that permission will not be granted to remove scrap metal from the “MV X-Press Pearl ship” without payment of applicable taxes.  

State Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, during a discussion with the President, pointed out that if metal is removed from the ship within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka, an import and export license must be obtained.  The minister said that Sri Lanka will get a significant amount of tax from this as there are about 48,000 metric tons of metal in the ship.  

He clearly mentioned that anything within Sri Lanka’s territorial waters should be dealt with according to the existing laws in the country.  

“The metal on the ship would be classified as scrap metal. If any party wants to take the metal away, they should obtain an import and export license, and in addition to that, they have to pay the customs duty,” the State Minister said.   

According to the Customs Ordinance, 10% of the value of these irons should be levied as cess, he said.