Politick Parliament. On record. For every citizen.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
10th Parliament· 154 sittings on record · 30,475 speeches · latest 10 June 2026

Sitting of Wednesday, 6 August 2025

10th Parliament· 18 debates· 234 speeches· 67 speakers

Source: Hansard PDF (parliament.lk) ↗ ·No. 1755159820030645 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard

‹ Previous sitting Next sitting ›

Order of business

Speeches load per item. Summaries shown here are AI-generated and labelled; verbatim text is on each speech page.

  7. 7 Oral question Oral Question: Sri Lanka Customs - Release of Containers without Inspection (Q.1/2025) 7 speeches
    • The Hon. Speaker procedural
      Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked the Minister of Finance whether Sri Lanka Customs had appointed a senior-officer committee to address port congestion caused by delays in releasing imported containers. He requested details of the committee members, the number of containers released without inspection, the criteria used for such releases, and whether the Government accepts the risks involved. He also sought information on any measures to address those risks, or reasons if such information could not be provided.

      Public FinanceInfrastructure Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha - Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development JJB

      AI summary Responding on behalf of the Finance Minister, the Minister said Sri Lanka Customs established a Steering Committee on 23 July 2024 to manage congestion by identifying low-risk containers selected for examination that could be released using alternative criteria. He stated that the Committee met 14 times up to 18 January 2025 and approved the release of 2,527 import containers after reviewing documentation, duty payments, risk alerts, scanning, valuation, and other specified conditions. He added that Customs does not release containers without risk-assessment procedures, and that post-clearance audits and CID inquiries into the released containers are under way.

      Public FinanceLaw & Order Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy raised a supplementary question on a recent smuggling incident involving “red containers,” citing public concern and findings from a presidentially appointed committee that their contents had not been properly verified. He asked what decisions had been taken beyond ongoing investigations and requested that Parliament be provided with details of the items in the containers, the importing institutions, and the categories of goods involved.

      Security & DefenceLaw & OrderCorruption & Governance Reform Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha stated that the committee examining the release mechanism during congestion had met 14 times and that its details and report would be tabled in Parliament. He said a separate committee was appointed in response to public allegations, its report had been given to the Secretary to the Treasury, and details of the relevant containers would be provided. He also noted that a Criminal Investigation Department inquiry and an internal audit were ongoing.

      Parliamentary ProcedurePublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. Hector Appuhamy SJB

      AI summary Hon. Hector Appuhamy asked how six salt containers were reportedly released without inspection after the incident, despite risks involving dangerous goods, public safety, and revenue. He questioned whether there were links to smuggling and sought an explanation from the responsible authorities.

      Law & OrderPublic Finance Full speech →
    • The Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha JJB

      AI summary The response clarifies that the question raised did not specifically cover the matter of salt containers. It states that if a separate, specific question is submitted on salt containers, an answer can be provided, and notes that issues relating to the release of containers of various goods fall under the authority of the Department of Customs.

      Parliamentary Procedure Full speech →