The Hon. Manoj Rajapaksha

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, one item today is approving regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969, to remove inefficiencies in vehicle imports and improve accuracy and efficiency in LC-related document exchanges between banks of both countries. We also consider changes to deposit/advance account limits.

¶ 02 Regrettably, the Opposition has scarcely engaged with the subject, diverting debate. Our economy was broken; numerous irregularities occurred in vehicle imports due to documentation flaws. The proposed Extraordinary Gazette brings Bureau Veritas in to ensure proper pre-shipment inspection and documentation, reducing delays caused by physical couriering of documents back and forth when seals or details were incomplete. With online verification, we can expedite processing.

¶ 03 Our Government restarted vehicle imports after several years of suspension. Tens of thousands of vehicles are now in the pipeline. It is our duty to provide efficient systems and remove bottlenecks. The amendments also recalibrate various advance account limits to current needs—Customs, Railways, printing at the Educational Publications Department, Prisons industries, and enforcement fuel allocations—so that investigations and operations can proceed effectively and corruption can be curbed. Thank you.

¶ 04 [The Sitting was suspended for lunch at 12.58 p.m. and resumed at 1.00 p.m.]