Remembering Customs Officer Sujith Perera

Thursday, 24 March 2011 01:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The 10th death anniversary of former Assistant Superintendent of Customs, late Sujith Prasanna Perera who paid the price with his life for promoting integrity in the department falls today, 24 March.

The fearless, committed, dedicated and passionate officer won recognition at the annual National Integrity Award 2010 by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).

“Sujith probably was the best investigating officer that our Customs Department has ever produced. He was one of those rare officers who did not bow down to internal, external or political pressure,” is how Deputy Collector of Customs, GaminiWarshapperuma described him at the NIA presentation.

He added that Sujith focused and committed himself to his job, to the extent of disregarding even death threats against him. He fearlessly fought against the offenders of the Customs Law and corruption within the department. “Irrespective of the parties involved, whether it was a politician, a top businessman or a senior customs officer, he carried out his investigations and never reserved himself from enforcing the law against the persons concerned. In addition, I found Sujith to be a fair and just officer and was humane in handling cases,” he said.

Tracing Sujith’s early days at Customs, he said that his investigating skills and ability to handle cases secured him a place at the Preventive Division as a Preventive Officer at a very young age. Sujith became an intelligent and an experienced investigating officer by handling many large fraudulent cases. His unimaginable understanding of how to handle cases, untiring hard work, made him an outstanding and memorable investigating officer of Sri Lanka Customs.

“Sujith had to pay with his life for all good things he had done to the society and to the Customs Department in particular. I feel that this country has lost a good 25 years of Sujith’s service as he was gunned down at a prime and very young age of 35,” he mourned.

Stressing that there will be many officers of Sujith’s calibre in government service who could demonstrate and uphold high level of integrity, and who could fight and stand up against the corruption he pointed out that such officers who could make a difference in serving our motherland should be protected.