News
COPA orders rotten fish import case to be handed over to CID
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) has instructed the officials of the Ministry of Finance to report the unloading of 102 containers of rotten fish in the Colombo Port to the CID as it is a prima facie criminal offence.
CID officers who were present at the COPA meeting were directed to expedite the investigation. That decision was announced when the COPA met recently (March 20) under the Chairmanship of Lasantha Alagiyawanna to examine the facts disclosed by the audit inquiry into the entry of a ship which sailed from Seychelles to Thailand with container loads of spoiled fish and allowed to enter the Colombo port.
A ship carrying 102 containers of fish (over 2,700 mt) from Seychelles to Thailand has suffered a technical fault near Sri Lanka. It was also disclosed that the fish on board had decayed due to the ship’s power failure. Accordingly, the Auditor-General W. P. C. Wickramaratne stated that the ship arrived at the port of Colombo on 13.01.2022 and instead of leaving following the ship’s repair many issues have arisen due to the unloading of the containers of rotten fish in Sri Lanka.
The Auditor-General has pointed out that although certain facilities are provided at the nearest port in the event of an emergency, the decision to allow the stock of rotten fish unloaded in Sri Lanka in violation of the Customs was deeply concerning.
It was disclosed that the containers of rotten fish had been unloaded in Sri Lanka by obtaining a new CUSDEC permit using a buyer as an importer to Sri Lanka on the recommendations of a committee consisting of senior Customs officials.
The Auditor-General pointed out that the date of the invoice had been marked as 10.12.2021, which was a date prior to 13.01.2022, the date the ship arrived at the port. The Auditor-General said it was problematic.
However, the Import and Export Control General said that according to the report of the Customs Committee, on the recommendations of the Central Environmental Authority, the relevant agency had applied for the import of the stock of fish for the production of organic fertilizer and the relevant permission had been obtained according to the Import and Export Control Act.
It was disclosed that four of the 102 containers had been destroyed, 43 of the remaining 98 were used to produce fertilizer, 40 were re-exported and 15 were still remaining in the country. During a physical inspection conducted in July 2023, it was observed that the remaining 15 containers were stinking of rotten fish.
The Auditor-General said it was a matter for serious concern that the main business of the company that obtained the stock of fish to make fertilizer was canning fish. However, the customs officials who were present stated that the were two distinct businesses and therefore, the officials testified to the fact that the rotten fish was not used to make canned fish.
The Committee Chairman said that although there was no issue with assisting a ship in distress, the unloading of a stock of rotten fish was a serious matter.
MP Alagiyawanna said it was doubtful whether the rotten fish had been sold for human consumption.
He pointed out that though it had been recommended to the Department of Import and Export Control during the COPA held on 23.01.2024 to appoint a committee consisting of all relevant institutions in relation to this incident for the purpose of conducting a field tour and report how much fertilizer has been produced, the committee had been appointed the COPA summoned the Customs officials. He expressed his displeasure.
The COPA Chairman said it appeared that the Customs officials had acted very enthusiastically to have the containers of rotten fish unloaded and he wondered why they lacked that kind of enthusiasm as regards other imports.
State Ministers Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva, Diana Gamage, Chamara Sampath Dasanayake, Members of Parliament Tissa Attanayake, Isuru Dodangoda, Dr. Ms. Harini Amarasuriya, officials representing the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Department of Import and Export Control, Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Police, Criminal Investigation Department and Auditor General’s Department were present at this COPA meeting.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Iran has sought the Indian intervention, at the highest level, to provide lifesaving support to the crews of empty Iranian vessels stranded just outside Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical mile territorial waters off Galle.
Sources familiar with the issue said that Iran had brought the developing situation to the attention of New Delhi as the crews of almost 20 vessels, included Indian nationals. Sources stressed that the group of vessels that unloaded crude oil a couple of months back were now stranded within Sri Lanka’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The US Navy torpedoed an unarmed Iran frigate, returning from India, on 04 March, 2026, about 19 nautical miles off the Galle coast. The unprovoked attack killed nearly 100 Iranians.
The Iranian Embassy in Colombo has inquired from the Indian High Commission of their response to the situation, sources said. The US has issued a global warning against providing food, water, medicine and other services to the Iranian vessels. The outcome of Iran-India talks on the issue at hand was not known, though sources asserted India may not throw its weight behind Iranian efforts to address the issue.
Responding to The Island queries, sources said both Sri Lanka and India were in a dilemma due to the US warning. India couldn’t ignore the plight of the Indian crew members and the Iranian vessels in its backyard.
The Sri Lankan government remains tight-lipped about the vessels stranded in its EEZ. Our efforts to elicit a response from relevant authorities were in vain. In addition to Indians, there are Bangladeshis among the crew members. Iran has explicitly stated the responsibilities of the countries concerned to provide assistance in terms of international law.
The Iranian position was articulated by its Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr.Alireza Delkhosh, recently. In a special statement, Ambassador Delkhosh emphasised that in terms of the Convention on the Law of the Sea (Article 98) as well as SOLAS and SAR
Conventions, Sri Lanka couldn’t refrain from providing the needs of the Iranian vessels stranded in its EEZ.
SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem lambasted the NPP government in Parliament for failing to provide assistance to the Iranian ships. The former Minister alleged that the government was simply carrying out dictates of the US. He strongly criticised the way Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath was handling the issue.
MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is in remand custody over the controversial Airbus deal, was further remanded until October 27 by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday (13).
Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama made the order after considering submissions by officers of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption and lawyers representing Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to sustain its recovery over the next two years, although growth is projected to moderate amid mounting global uncertainties, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook.
In its World Economic Outlook 2026: Resilience Under Strain, Urgent Choices, the IMF projects Sri Lanka’s economy to expand by 4% in 2026, slowing to 3.7% in 2027, following estimated growth of 5% in 2025.
Inflation, meanwhile, is forecast to rise to 5.3% in 2026 and 5.4% in 2027, reversing the average deflation rate of 0.5% recorded in 2025.
Unemployment is expected to remain steady at 3.9% throughout the forecast period.
The projections come amid growing pressure on the global economy from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, elevated energy prices, geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions.
Sri Lanka’s external position is also expected to weaken, with the current account balance projected to shift from a surplus of 1.6% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 to deficits of 0.5% in 2026 and 0.3% in 2027.
The IMF’s outlook points to continued economic expansion in Sri Lanka, but with slower growth, rising inflation and a narrowing external surplus giving way to current account deficits over the forecast period.
Heavy showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Central, and North-western provinces and in Anuradhapura district.
Sri Lanka, India caught in US-Iran ship crisis
Namal further remanded
IMF projects Lankan economic growth to moderate amidst mounting global uncertainties
Major Gen Pushpakumara assumes command of 56 Infantry Division
Dickwella axed, Bandara earns maiden Test call up
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features7 days agoThe Sri Lankan who made Scottish history
-
Sports7 days agoNissanka absence opens door for Sri Lanka’s young guns
-
News6 days agoNDB fraud Rs 60mn more than reported
-
News6 days agoRemoving monk’s robes matter for Sangha to decide: Mahanayake Theras
-
News7 days agoShiranthi R remanded until 13 Oct.
-
Features7 days agoFuture of Sri Lanka’s state university system: Should it be shut down and reopened?
-
News4 days agoSri Lanka escalates anti-graft drive with Shiranthi’s jailing
-
News5 days agoNPP govt. reminded of its responsibilities as US warship leaves Colombo