Sri Lankan Organization appeals for release of donated IT equipment held by Customs

• Regrets oversight in following proper procedure

A consignment of IT equipment brought by a Sri Lankan  organization from Australia for free distribution among the rural  schools has been held up due to what he called oversight in following  the procedure, but it urged the authorities concerned to offer him  redress in this regard to proceed with the charity work.   

The association called ‘ALTEA ASSOCIATION’ has brought the  consignment, comprising around 700 laptops and 250 mini PCs, from  Australia to Sri Lanka.   

Our intention is to distribute these items among 220  underprivileged rural schools across various educational zones and  districts, including Ampara, Badulla, Bibila, Chilaw, Dehiattakandiya,  Gampola, Kotmale, Ratnapura, Seruwila, Walasmulla, Wellawaya and  Kegalle.   Most of these Schools teach from grade 1 to grade 11. It  has become difficult to get this IT Equipment free from customs custody,  due to used electronic items cannot be brought to Sri Lanka. The  documents (requesting 220 letters from Schools) have proven insufficient  for the release of the equipment from customs custody.  
The mini PCs boast 16GB of memory, while the laptops are  equipped with touchscreens and can be converted, also featuring 16GB of  memory. Given their specifications, these machines are expected to  remain operational for at least seven years or more  

We deeply regret the oversight in not following the proper  channels and ensuring the necessary documentation beforehand. As a  result, we appeal to the higher authorities for understanding and  leniency in this matter. Our primary concern is the potential damage to  the IT equipment while in customs custody, which may be damaged due to  high temperature.  We humbly request that the authorities consider our case  sympathetically and facilitate the release of the IT equipment destined  for these deserving rural schools. Your assistance in expediting this  process would greatly benefit the educational advancement of countless  underprivileged students across Sri Lanka,” the Association said.   There are barriers in importing used IT equipment to Sri Lanka.