Pivithuru Hela Urumaya’s Udaya Gammanpila reignites outrage over Sri Lanka’s largest customs fraud, 323 containers released without proper inspection. Despite direct accusations against Minister Bimal Ratnayake and Deputy Minister Janith Kodithuwakku, the Bribery Commission remains silent nearly two months later. Could drugs or weapons have slipped through customs? Why hasn’t anyone been arrested?
Nearly two months after the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) lodged a formal complaint with the Bribery Commission regarding the suspicious release of 323 uninspected containers, no meaningful investigation has taken place. On July 17, party leader and attorney-at-law Udaya Gammanpila revisited the Bribery Commission, issuing a stern reminder and calling out the inaction in what he describes as one of the most serious frauds in Sri Lanka’s history.
Speaking to the media, Gammanpila said, “Today we came to the Bribery Commission for two reasons. On June 2, our party’s Cultural Secretary, Shirantha Jayalath, submitted a complaint regarding the fraudulent release of 323 containers without proper customs inspection. It’s been over six weeks, and we’ve seen no progress.”
He revealed that Minister Bimal Ratnayake and Deputy Minister Janith Kodithuwakku are directly implicated, citing written statements from the Director General of Customs confirming he acted under Minister Ratnayake’s orders. “But Bimal doesn’t have the legal authority to issue such directives,” Gammanpila asserted.
Gammanpila alleged that the Bribery Commission appears more focused on petty scandals and historical corruption cases than holding current officeholders accountable. “If they are short on staff, then temporarily suspend low-priority investigations and redirect resources to this, the country’s biggest active fraud,” he urged.
The PHU believes the stakes are monumental. “If those containers contained items more valuable than declared, the government has already lost millions. If they contained weapons or narcotics, as customs officials fear, this scandal poses a severe national security threat,” he added.
According to Gammanpila, this case dwarfs recent controversies about carrom boards, corn cobs, or newspaper ads. Yet, the accused remain untouched. “In fact, immunity now seems to extend to anyone involved with the NPP-led Compass movement,” he said.
He cited an example of a suspect involved in a schoolgirl’s suicide attempt in Kotahena, who was a former Compass organizer and parliamentary candidate, being provided police protection rather than facing arrest.
Touching on Sri Lanka’s long tradition of arresting political opponents after a change in government, Gammanpila noted, “During Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency, the Bribery Commission filed cases against his own supporters. Under Ranil Wickremesinghe, a cabinet minister was arrested. If President Anura Kumara Dissanayake wants to match or exceed his predecessors, he should start with the thieves in his own government.”
He also referenced Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, still evading an arrest order from the Mount Lavinia court, and noted that Bimal Ratnayake remains free six months after the container scandal broke.
Gammanpila pointed to Deputy Minister Janith Kodituwakku’s public statements from January, where he admitted giving instructions to release the containers. On January 24, he even said the government would take responsibility for any wrongdoing. “The Finance Ministry’s committee has now concluded there was a serious mistake. We’ve submitted that report to the Bribery Commission too,” Gammanpila added.
Q: Will this be blamed on officials?
A: “Some are trying to shift blame to the bureaucrats. The Deputy Minister now says officials will be punished. But he forgets what he said earlier. Even the President recently implied that if officials acted under ministerial orders, they’re not responsible. We say this to the officials: follow the President’s advice—don’t protect corrupt ministers.”
Q: The President says he has no debts or fears
A: “He may claim that, but it looks like he fears Bimal Ratnayake. If he’s not afraid, then prove it. Take action instead of making empty declarations.”
