Sri Lanka Customs will implement an online system for releasing containers from the Colombo Port to three external container examination yards from Friday (03), Director General of Sri lanka Customs, Seewali Arukgoda said.
Speaking at an awareness programme held on Tuesday (31), Arukgoda said the new system is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the container release process.
He said containers imported into the country are inspected at three external yards outside the Colombo Port, and the process of releasing them to these yards has so far been handled manually.
“Earlier, dealing agents had to physically visit the gate, present their passes and register details. There were many complaints about this manual system, including allegations of inefficiency and irregularities” he said.
“We observed that there were numerous allegations raised on social media regarding this process, and there was some truth to those concerns,” he added.
He said the decision was taken to digitalise the process in response to these concerns.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka Customs’ Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division has developed a dedicated application to facilitate the process online.
“We have introduced this system to ensure a transparent and accountable process, free from fraud and irregularities. From this Friday, container releases to examination yards will be carried out through this digital platform,” Arukgoda said. (NewsWire)
