Operations hit as customs officers stage walkout

Officers attached to the Import Division and Customs Bonds Division of Sri Lanka Customs Headquarters staged a walkout this morning affecting various day-to-day operations. 

According to sources within Customs HQ, the labor strike has brought activities such as keeping record of custom import clearance, accepting import clearance and documentation to a complete standstill.

However, the President of Customs Trade Union Nishantha Uduwela stated that although there are several investigative units in the customs department, another investigative unit has been established above the four divisions. 

He stated that the new unit has been created for the purpose of monitoring duties and their organization should be informed before such units are established. 

He stated that trade union action was launched due to creating this unit without informing the employees.