The five-day long work-to-rule campaign launched by Customs Trade Unions on September 19 against the proposed new Customs Ordinance Draft Bill was called off on Friday evening.

Services such as preparing documentation for export goods, inspection and well as clearance of goods were hampered as a result of this situation.

The Trade Union Collective of Customs, Inland Revenue and the Excise Department demonstrated opposite the Lake House round-about on Friday afternoon in support of the Trade Union Action and against the privatisation of inland revenue collection.

A member of the Customs Joint Trade Union Alliance, Sudath De Silva pointed out that the economy of the country has been greatly affected and the minister,  and the government “must take responsibility for this.”

“We called for a discussion. We wanted the existing ordinance to be used as a foundation. No one is opposed to changing this”, he said

The matter was also raised in parliament today.

• Comprehensive Plan to re-open the country; Rs. 6 Bn for Medicine Box – PMD
• Prison inmates pass O/L examination
• President honors 9/11 victims at Manhattan Memorial
• PM orders the release of all consignments of essential commodities
• Sri Lanka seeks concessions from UAE to purchase oil