Rs. 619 M “Dockyardgate”: Two High Ranking Customs Men Caught Out
- Customs Trade Union Demands Letter From P. B.
- AG Slammed For Ambiguous Advice
By Faraz Shauketaly
A key trade union in the Sri Lanka Customs has requested that the Treasury Secretary, Dr. P. B. Jayasundara confirms in writing his verbal instructions to the Director General of Customs, Suddharma Karunaratna, to follow advice of the Attorney General and drop the case against Colombo Dockyard PLC – a case that has come to be known as “Dockyardgate”.
The General Secretary, Customs Branch of the Sri Lanka Independent Government Trade Union Organisation, W. M. R. P Wijekoon in a letter to the Director General of Customs has further called on her to take action against two senior officers whose conduct in this case has come under scrutiny. In the letter the union alleges that Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundara had given a verbal directive to withdraw the Supreme Court case against Colombo Dockyard PLC initiated by the Customs Department.
In our previous exposé of the so-called “Dockyardgate” scandal we reproduced the Attorney General’s opinion given to the Director General of Customs on May 10, 2010, which carried a warning that the AG would withdraw the action pending before the Supreme Court against Dockyard Ltd. This is inspite of the fact that the company had already all but conceded guilt by making a deposit of Rs 95 million with the Customs Department, to be applied against the final determination of the Customs inquiry pending against the company.
There is also controversy over the minutes made on the AG’s letter by three senior Customs officers, one being the Deputy Director General (Enforcement) Z.A.M Jazeel and the other, the Director (Preventive) Thilak Perera, on May 31, 2010 and the final minute dated June 23, 2010 and made by Deputy Director Lalitha Weerasinghe sealing the fate of the case totally disregarding the minute made by the Customs Legal Affairs Unit that questioned the AG’s opinion. These three minutes clearly demonstrate the surreptitious – and hurried action taken to close the case without the knowledge of the new DGC, Mrs. Karunarathna.
The DGC had taken a firm stand on this issue challenging the opinion expressed by the AG Mohan Peiris to withdraw the case. Further the DGC had nullified the improper action taken by three senior Customs men. Customs insiders believe that these three men had acted apparently on the advice of a former Director General of Customs who was removed quite unexpectedly.
The DGC’s letter sent to the AG on August 3, 2010 and reproduced in our last Sunday’s issue clearly demonstrates her stand that goes against the AG’s advice. Her stand is based on the consideration of the colossal revenue losses incurred by the government and also due to sudden deviation of the AG’s stand since the initial advice given by him to Customs on November 4, 2009. The new DGC had informed the AG that the withdrawal of the Supreme Court action at this stage is clearly inappropriate.
faraz@thesundayleader.lk
History repeats it’s self. PBJ has caused a lot of Revenue loss to the state in the past too. Waters Edge, Lanka Marine Services. He is still allowed to hang on without shame and continues the damage to the general public at the expense of a handful of private individuals.
Reality, PBJ was shamed but he is just one of the forty thieves. Ali Baba called him back despite judicial reservations. What can one do when genetically programed thieves are at the helm of political power?
Why worry we have lots of maid to export to Saudi- Lebanon
This man Jayasundera is so unqualified for the job and is a rogue. He was once removed the corrupt President put him back
You know whats the biggest problem in Sri Lanka according to the State television.Not Dengue,Not nailed housemaid.Not plight of farmers.Guess what.Its non reduction of vehicle prices by dealers! which is the burning problem . And the Treasuty Secetry has warned further tax cuts possible if this not fixed, while majority of the country struggle to make a living! This currupt shameless theif(who is an ex-convict) was a part of almost everydeal in the corrupt “Chandrika regime”, now hes heading curruption unit of “Rajapaksa Regime”. As for the letter it is a letter by the “most corrupt government institution” which is the customs, to the head thef regarding a theft, thats it.
Friends the Logic very simple!
The blind leads the blind. These family partners may have differences unique to each other one. However they have a common approach when swindling public money like tsunami scenario. All they have done appointed PBJ to do their financial Management of countires 70% whichis ultimately ending up in US in california etc for their generations to enjoy. The voters who eat jack and the nut in villages have to screwed instead!
We Sri Lankans always comment as if SL is not our land. Come on guys. We have to get together and chase this corrupt thieves out of power. I call upon the forces who usually protect these unlawful thieves just because they were elected by the people. Yes, we elected them because they appeared to be honest but they proved they are pure thieves so let’s kick them out help us Navy, Army and airforce. Your duty is to protect the public not the thieves.
If I am a thief and want to rob something and need a helper, I always try to find another thief for that work. Without his help I cant rob. So, all Sri Lankans must know this phenomena.
Ponna Ranil led opposition should take the full blame for making things easy for Rajapakse regime and fatal failure on their part to play the watchdog role for the people, that can only be accomplished if the UNP allows a man with integrity and leadership qualities to command the leadership of the party and the contriy. Unless the opposition realised these realities the innocent peopleof this country will suffer in the Rajapake regime that is corrupt to the core.
when justice is not equal for everyone, things like this will happen every day n this gost town
Maha Eka the Rajapakse of Medamulana is the biggest crook of Asia, he gets a commission from every deal
Very similar to the CAPRI VAT scam.
Will Vasu take up another public-interest case. No, he will not having tasted what
the Judicial system and its verdicts are, now with Mohan Peiries in the Clans
house itself. PB is a patriot and was therefore re-appointed by MR to make good
their losses during PB short absence is one guess.