Basil calls on Customs officers to deliver efficient service

• Assures necessary facilities for Customs employees to work with job satisfaction
• Minister commends involvement of Customs officials in revenue generation process despite COVID

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa

Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa last week called on Customs officers to deliver a more quality and efficient service to its customers.

Rajapaksa assured necessary facilities to the employees of Sri Lanka Customs to work with job satisfaction, at a special discussion

held recently at the Finance Ministry.

Difficulties faced by the officers in their professional activities, issues encountered by various agencies that regularly work with the Sri Lanka Customs in performing their services, and the streamlining of the revenue generation process, were discussed at length.

The Minister commended the service of Sri Lanka Customs officials for their continued involvement in the revenue generation process, who he said rendered a satisfactory service even in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Representatives from each sector of Sri Lanka Customs briefed the Finance Minister on the issues facing their respective sectors.

Officials from Sri Lanka Customs also highlighted the measures that had been taken to facilitate trade in accordance with the agreements and conventions of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Accordingly, steps have been taken to introduce a more efficient clearance system using IT communication, which has facilitated clearance with minimal involvement in the wake of COVID-19.

Sri Lanka Customs also outlined the state-of-the-art database of imported goods, which was linked to the clearance points and network. This will enable a gradual increase in revenue and is also in the process of providing a more efficient service through the risk management process of container clearance.

Money & Capital Markets and State Enterprise Reforms State Minister Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle, Sri Lanka Customs Director General Major General (Retd.) Vijitha Ravipriya and representatives of the Customs Trade Unions were also present at the discussion.