Customs Officers’ Union calls for political stability

Friday, 22 April 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Customs Officers’ Union yesterday called on the Government to ensure political stability, whilst insisting suppression of peaceful protests and right to freedom of expression will tarnish the country’s image in the international arena.

“If the current situation prevails for longer with no solution, we observe it will create uncertainty about future, which will impact trade and complete economic peril. Thus, implementing a sustainable economic revival plan, whilst ensuring political stability is critical,” they said.

They also claimed that the dire economic conditions that the people are faced with is a reflection of the short-sighted economic and fiscal policies of the Government.

“Foreseeing the current economic situation, we as an organisation presented a reasonable proposal to the President and the former Finance Minister and former Secretary to the President. But our recommendations were thrown to the dustbin without even having a look at it by the former Secretary to the President,” they pointed out.

They said that it was not just their proposals, but many such submissions made by several such associations were turned a blind eye by successive Governments over the past two decades.

The Customs Officers’ Union charged that the economists that were behind those decision making should be held accountable for the prevailing status of the economy.