INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) during its recent meeting drew special attention to the quantity of ethanol imported for use in Sri
Export Control Department officials were instructed to submit a report to the Committee within two weeks containing the procedure for
issuing licenses for the importation of ethanol into the country by various companies, information on each of these companies and the
pharmaceuticals, other than alcohol, and the proper use of ethanol for those products should be taken into consideration.Furthermore, the
Committee inquired into the issuance of licenses for the importation of vehicles and spare parts to Sri Lanka
Although it had previously instructed to take the necessary steps to formulate a proper procedure in coordination with the Department of
Motor Traffic, the Committee expressed its displeasure that no action had been taken in this regard.In addition, it was further requested
that a suitable methodology be prepared to maintain the relevant activities in a more efficient and transparent manner and submit to the
Committee within a period of 04 months.The Committee also noted the lack of a standardized computer system to carry out the activities of
the Department of Import and Export Control.The Committee pointed out that the lack of proper coordination with the Direct Liaison
Institutions such as the Excise Department, the Department of Motor Traffic and the Sri Lanka Customs is very problematic in conducting the
activities of the Department and was instructed to take the necessary steps to do computer networking immediately.To this end, the
importance of liaising with institutions such as the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) and the
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission was also emphasized.Although the officials of the Department of Import and Export Control were
informed about this matter in the year 2016, the Committee expressed its displeasure that this work has not been done so far and considering
drawn to the subsequent transfer of vehicles imported under the prize scheme to various parties
Accordingly, after the vehicles were imported under the gift scheme, the officers present were asked about the transfer of the vehicles to
other parties.The officials informed the Committee that the vehicles so imported on a tax concession basis could not be transferred to
another party until 05 years have elapsed
They stated that even after 5 years of such transfers, the necessary procedures have been put in place to recover the normal tax value of
the relevant vehicles.The Committee also emphasized the importance of proper follow-up and regulation of licenses for vehicles imported
under the gift scheme.The Committee inquired regarding the loss of customs duty of 114.6 million rupees due to incorrect customs associated
classification numbering of 33 used cars in the year 2017 contrary to the provisions of Gazette Notification No
1933/13 dated 21st September 2015, Gazette Notifications for Vehicles subject to Licensing Control and Instructions given by the Minister of
Development Strategies and the Minister of International Trade and the Minister of State to the Controller of Imports and Exports
It was also informed that the full investigation has been handed over to the CID
The Chairman of the Committee instructed to submit a report on its progress to the Committee within 02 weeks.The Committee also discussed
the report of a special audit to study the reduction in the excise duty on a kilogram of sugar from Rs
25 cents and study and the Committee also recently discussed the report of the special audit report to study the non-receipt of the expected
importation of sugar and the failure to introduce the criteria required to control the import of sugar and the loss incurred by the
Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Tissa Attanayake, Duminda Dissanayake, Udaya Gammanpila, (Dr.) Sudarshini Fernandopulle, Mohomad Muzammil,
Niroshan Perera, Ashok Abeysinghe, Hesha Withanage, Sivagnanam Shritharan, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, (Prof.) Ranjith Bandara, B.Y.G
Rathnasekara, (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi, were present at the committee meeting held.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
