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SJB opposes appointment of Seevali as Customs Chief

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Container scandal cited as reason

The SJB yesterday (27) took the government to task for appointing Seevali Arukgoda as Director General of Customs despite serious allegations against him over the irregular release of 323 containers.

Addressing the media at the SJB party headquarters, Colombo, SJB MP Mujibur Rahuman said a committee appointed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had held Arukgoda responsible for failing in his supervisory duties when 309 containers were released from the port without inspection. “Yet,

instead of taking action against him, the government rewarded him with the top post,” he said.

Rahuman pointed out that a complaint against Arukgoda was already before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corrupiton (CIABOC), but no action had been taken.

“This government came to power promising to end corruption. But what we see is that if someone is close to the President, or his party, allegations don’t matter. They are still promoted to the highest offices,” he said.

“None of the containers were inspected. The Customs Department itself admitted it had released the containers on the instructions of Minister Bimal Rathnayake to the then Director General,” he said.

Rahuman warned that the losses to the state caused by the release of the 309 containers had still not been calculated. “The government takes decisions to please its associates and has made no effort to recover the damage caused by this illegal release. The current President, despite his talk of upholding the rule of law, is acting no differently from his predecessors,” he said.

Rahuman alleged that the NPP government had abandoned its promise to end fraud and corruption. “Instead of probing whether individuals facing serious allegations are suitable for office, the President is appointing his associates and party loyalists to top posts. If they are close to him, corruption charges don’t seem to matter,” he said.

by Saman Indrajith ✍️



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Cabinet nod for MOU between Sri Lanka and Romania on the cooperation in the Labour Field

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Romania, a country that has maintained diplomatic relationship with Sri Lanka for several decades in various fields, has become an increasingly popular destination among Sri Lankan skilled and semi-skilled Labour categories, especially in the fields of construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and services sectors.

At present, the recruitment of Sri Lankan workers to Romania is carried out by licensed private employment agencies under the
supervision of the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau. However, since both parties have recognized the need of establishing a more organized and sustainable recruitment method due to increasing  demand, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Government of Romania regarding cooperation in the field of the labour sector with the following objectives.

• Establishment of proper mechanism for recruitment and management of workers.
• Promotion of ethical and transparent recruitment practices.
• Protection of rights and welfare of the migrant workers.
• Facilitation of regular discussions between the formal and relevant authorities ofboth countries.
• Improvement of technical cooperation, skills recognition, and capacity building in the labour sector.

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New circular to replace Management Services Circular No. 01/2019

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by  the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance,
Planning, and Economic Development to repeal Management Services Circular No. 01/2019 , dated 15-03-2019, issued regarding the implementation of development projects, and to issue a new management services circular including updated provisions instead.

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Four Chief Prelates urge President to appoint NAO official as Auditor General

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Anura Kumara

Chief Prelates of the Malwathu, Asgiriya, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, in a joint letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has expressed concern over the protracted delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General.

The Chief Prelates have said that the appointment of an outsider as the Head of the National Audit Office (NAO) responsible for ensuring transparency and accountability in public finances will be inappropriate.

The Chief Prelates have said that they are of the view that Dharmapala Gammanpila, a senior officer with extensive experience within the Auditor General’s Department, is the ideal candidate for the top post. They have also emphasised that his appointment will strengthen the government’s efforts to promote economic prosperity.

Chulantha Wickramaratne, who served as AG for a period of six years, retired in April 2025. Following his retirement, President Dissanayake nominated H.T.P. Chandana, an audit officer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, as the AG. The CC rejected that nomination. Subsequently, President Dissanayake appointed the next senior-most official at the NAO Dharmapala Gammanpila as Acting Auditor General for a period of six months. Then, the President nominated Senior Deputy Auditor General L.S.I. Jayarathne to serve in an acting capacity, but her nomination, too, was also rejected. Many an eyebrow was raised when the President nominated O.R. Rajasinghe, the Internal Audit Director of the Sri Lanka Army for the top post. That nomination too was rejected. As a result, the vital position remains vacant since 07 December, 2025.

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