Colombo — In a dramatic revelation that raises serious questions about accountability, former Minister Udaya Gammanpila claims Sri Lanka Customs has formally admitted that it no longer holds the documentation related to 323 containers released from the Colombo Port without inspection in January 2025.
Speaking at a media briefing organized by the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Gammanpila alleged that this disappearance of records is no coincidence, and accused the authorities of covering up a potentially dangerous operation.
“The danger of releasing 323 containers without inspection was initially exposed not by politicians but by Customs officials themselves,” Gammanpila said. “At that time, Minister Bimal Ratnayake appeared before the media, taking full responsibility and claiming the containers were released under his orders. But he’s not the Minister of Finance Customs doesn’t fall under his purview. So what authority did he have to issue such an order?”
According to Gammanpila, Minister Ratnayake only chairs a Cabinet sub-committee tasked with easing container congestion. That committee is only authorized to submit recommendations to the Cabinet, not to interfere with Customs operations. Yet, the containers were released without the mandated inspections, an action that Gammanpila believes far exceeded the committee’s mandate.
Invoking the Right to Information Act, Gammanpila’s team wrote to Sri Lanka Customs on February 8, 2025, seeking details about the contents of the uninspected containers and how many had been earmarked for red and orange route clearance (typically used for high-risk and medium-risk cargo, respectively).
“What we got in response on April 3 was not an answer,it was evasion,” he said. “Instead of direct replies, Customs sent us a copy of their January 29 press release and said they don’t currently have the documents related to those containers. That is not just unusual, it’s deeply suspicious.”
He insisted that the absence of records only reinforces concerns that something illegal or dangerous may have been inside those containers.
“Our belief is that the containers included weapons and ammunition. The evidence? A sharp spike in underworld shootings began soon after January 18, 2025, the same day these containers were released. For months prior, the underworld had been inactive, almost crippled. But now, violence has become daily news. Some media outlets even have a ‘Shot of the Day’ segment. There have been 49 shootings and 30 deaths just this year,” Gammanpila said. “Every drop of that blood is on Minister Bimal’s hands.”
He accused Minister Ratnayake of either acting unlawfully or being part of a larger operation that has endangered national security. “If Customs is under the Ministry of Finance and Bimal Ratnayake isn’t the Finance Minister, then he had no authority to issue instructions. If he did so anyway, that is a criminal act.”
Referring to the recent arrest of former Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government, Gammanpila challenged the current administration to follow suit.
“President Ranil made history by having one of his own ministers arrested. Now we urge President Anura to do the same, to arrest Minister Bimal Ratnayake and uphold the rule of law.”
Gammanpila’s fiery allegations signal a deeper political and institutional crisis, casting doubt on the integrity of high-level decisions in the country’s port and customs operations. With records missing, explanations lacking, and gun violence escalating, calls for transparency and legal action are growing louder.
