News
SJB accuses govt. of hiding report on container scandal
Main opposition party, the SJB, on Friday accused the NPP and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of concealing a report submitted by a committee appointed to investigate the release of 309 containers from the Colombo Port without proper Customs inspection.
Speaking at a media briefing at the SJB headquarters in Colombo, SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said:
“The President appointed a committee to probe the release of 309 containers without Customs checks. The committee has submitted its report to the President, but to date, he has not made it public. Not even Parliament has been briefed on the findings. The President is clearly withholding the report.”
Rahuman added: “We believe the President is hiding the report because it may contain damaging revelations regarding the release of those 309 containers. The government has remained completely silent. There is no statement, no investigation, and no action. We have asked in Parliament multiple times for this report, but it has not been tabled.”
MP also criticised the May 19 Gazette issued by the President, which allowed salt imports until June 10. He claimed around 400 containers of salt had been held at the port, with Customs stating that the shipments had arrived after the deadline specified by the Gazette.
Rahuman said six of those containers had been released between June 12 and 15, even though documents presented to Customs and shipping records clearly showed they had arrived late.
“If that’s the case, how did these six containers get cleared? Who gave the green light?” MP Rahman questioned, saying his party demanded that the President release the investigation report and explain the selective clearance of containers.
By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon ✍️
The Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship Development has recommended the establishment of Sri Lankan Standards, i.e. the import testing methodology for imported tires used for passenger cars and pneumatic tires for three-wheelers with the aim of ensuring a fair competitive environment for local
manufactures and ensuring consumer safety and security.
Taking into the said recommendations, “Import and Export (control regulations N0.08 of the 2026)” has been enacted to amend the existing regulations by means of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2508/27 dated 2026-10-01, prescribing Sri Lanka standard 1212 for the import of passenger types (HS Code 4011.10.90) and Sri Lanka standard 1347 for the import of
pneumatic tires for three – wheeled vehicles (HS Code 4011.90.10).
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to submit the aforementioned regulations to Parliament for approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 02.06.2025 to introduce a new act to promote and providing legal provisions for facilitating the Public Private Joint Enterprises within Sri Lanka as well as the establishment of the National Agency for Public Private Partnership Joint Enterprises.
Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the relevant draft bill and the Attorney General has given his clearance to the said draft bill.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said
draft bill in the government gazette notification and thereby submit it to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Regulation, development and control of indigenous medical sector in Sri Lanka comprised of Ayurvedha, Sidhdha, Unani, Local Therapies are carried out under the provisions of Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Although amendments were made to the act from time to time as per the requirements, the necessity of further amending the Ayurvedha Act has been identified to enable efficiently maintaining all activities of local medical field productively, further formalizing the regulation of the sector, taking actions to providing licenses applicable to export of local medicines, and achieving the progress and sustainable development goals in the local medical sector.
Based on the said factors, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to direct the Legal Draftsman to formulate a draft bill to amend the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961.
Import and Export (Control) Regulations No. 08 of 2026
Draft Bill of the Public Private Partnership Enterprises Act to be gazzetted
Amendment of the Ayurvedha Act No. 31 of 1961
Cabinet nod to amend the Sri Lanka Development Administration Institute Act No. 9 of 1982
Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre
State patronage for the cremation ceremony of the late deputy prelate (Anu Nayaka Thero) of the Sri Laka Ramangya Maha Nikaya, Gatambe Rajopawanramadhipatha, Siri Chandawimala Wanshalankara, Chandrakeerthi Sri Amarawansha, Sadhdharmawageeshwara, Shasanashobhanna Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimalabhidhana Thero
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