Customs Chaos: MP Drops Bombshell on Controversial Container Release

Government Scrambles to Justify Hasty Action as Allegations Mount Over Major Breach in Inspection Protocol

 The government was forced into urgent damage control this week after explosive revelations in Parliament alleged that Maladewa Customs had released hundreds of containers in January in direct violation of inspection protocols, raising fears of gross negligence—or worse.

Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman accused Customs authorities of breaching procedure and attempting to whitewash the scandal, while calling the official investigation into the matter "deeply flawed" and “rife with irregularities.”

Parliament Stormed With Explosive Report

During a heated session, Rahman presented findings from an internal report that contradicted earlier government claims about the container release, which was originally justified as a measure to ease mounting congestion at port terminals.

“According to the official record, 323 containers were said to be released on January 18,” Rahman said. “But the report clearly states only 309 were actually released. Why the discrepancy?”

A One-Man Committee and Vanishing Protocols

Rahman questioned the credibility of the inspection process, revealing that only one member of a three-person committee was reportedly present for the inspections. The remaining roles, he alleged, were filled by Additional Customs Director General Seevali Arukgoda, who acted both as a committee member and the monitoring officer—roles meant to be independent of each other.

“The entire process appears manipulated,” Rahman charged. “This is not a minor lapse—this is a systemic breakdown.”

Red, Yellow, and Green: Rules Ignored

Citing the Customs’ own risk management policy, Rahman laid out a damning case:

Red label containers require scanning and full physical inspection.

Yellow label containers need to be scanned and sampled.

Green label containers undergo document checks only.

“This committee had no authority to release yellow-labeled containers,” he said. “Yet, 158 yellow containers were released with no scans, no samples—nothing. Even worse, 37 red label containers were let go without any scanning out of 151. That’s not just carelessness—that’s a scandal.”

Finance Ministry Forced to Intervene

The uproar prompted the Ministry of Finance to appoint a separate committee in February, led by Deputy Treasury Secretary A.K. Senaviratne, to investigate the Customs breach.

Though the government insists the committee will “leave no stone unturned,” critics remain skeptical, warning that the overlapping roles and procedural shortcuts raise serious questions of accountability, oversight, and possible corruption.

Public Demands Answers

As the controversy deepens, civil society groups and trade watchdogs are calling for greater transparency and accountability from the Customs Department and the Finance Ministry. With over 300 containers possibly entering circulation without proper checks, fears over security, illegal goods, or tax evasion loom large.

“The public has a right to know what really happened,” Rahman insisted. “And we won’t stop until they do.”