Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa today claimed (Feb 05) that the Prime Minister was yet to provide an opportunity for customs officials to meet and discuss the issues pertaining to the appointment of the new Customs Director General.
Issuing a special statement in Parliament, Mr. Rajapaksa said that the country has already suffered a loss of Rs 3 billion due to the strike action of customs officials.
"The Customs Department contributes to 55 percent of the country's economy," he added while calling on the government to resolve the problem with immediate effect since the people were badly affected.
"Many industrialists have been affected since essential goods are not cleared from the ports" he remarked.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is due to vacate his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo this morning, a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) source said.
The Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Bill was passed by a majority of 150 in parliament today. However the opposition MP’s were absent during the voting.
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