President appoints CoI to increase Customs efficiency

• Five-member CoI appointed to study Customs 
• Tasked with making recommendations to streamline institution and reduce corruption 
• Commission to seek public and trade union views  

A five-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has been appointed to study the prevailing situation at Sri Lanka Customs and make recommendations on increasing its efficiency, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said yesterday.

Appointment of the Commission was made on the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the statement added.

Supreme Court Judge Shiran Anthony has been appointed as the Chairman of the Commission.

In the meantime, Appeals Court Judge Priyantha Fernando, High Court Judge Damith Thotawatte, Deputy Governor of Central Bank K.M.M. Siriwardhane, Senior Consultant (Trade) Dr. Sanath Jayanetti and former Director General of Customs P.A. Dias will serve as its members.

The Commission is tasked with presenting recommendations to streamline the Customs and ways to prevent corruption and irregularity complaints against the institution.

President has further directed the Commission to obtain the opinions of members of the public and other relevant groups, and to review the suggestions submitted by Customs trade unions.