Finance Minister says no need to abolish gazette on commercial trading

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera today (Jul 26) told Parliament that there is no need to abolish the gazette on commercial trading which has come into focus as being a means through which waste was imported into the country. 

Responding to a question posed in Parliament, the Finance Minister pointed out that the gazette indexed 1818/30 which had been issued in 2013, could be further strengthened by making certain amendments if required.

He explained that there were sufficient provisions available in this gazette to encourage foreign investments and exports while also preventing the importation of harmful items to the country.

Minister Samaraweera further said that all trading activities permitted under the gazette were subjected to the restrictions of the Customs Ordinance, thereby empowering the Customs Department to take action over any law violation.

Trading activities under the gazette include off-shore business, entrepot trade, front-end services, operation of the headquarters of leading buyers, and logistic services.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister also told Parliament that 241 waste containers had been imported to the country between 2017 and 2018 as revealed by the Customs Department.

Of the said amount, 111 containers which currently remain at the Colombo Port had been imported by ETL Colombo Pvt Ltd by mentioning the name of Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation as the intended buyer.

Another 130 containers had been cleared from the Port after importation by Hayleys Plc, he said. These containers have been dumped at the Hayleys Free Zone.

Minister Samaraweera noted that investigations have revealed that mixed waste had been imported through these containers in violation of the BASEL convention, and also without the approval of the Central Environment Authority.