The controversy surrounding a stock of cement imported from Pakistan has deepened when Sri Lanka's state-owned National Cooperatives Trust has reportedly released for sale the stock, without the Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) Certificate, through its cooperative network.
Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) has declined to issue the SLS certificate on the grounds of quality for the stock of 100,000 cement bags imported by the National Cooperatives Trust to alleviate the prevailing shortage of cement in the country.
Sri Lanka construction industry professionals point out that the sale of cement without the SLS certificate is a violation of law.
However, the cement is now on sale through the state-owned cooperative network with the printed SLS seal on the bag.
Printing SLS seal falsely is a clear violation of law, the construction industry says.The 5 million kilogram stock was held in the Customs until the SLSI approval.
Director in charge of goods inspection of Sri Lanka Customs S.D.S. Gunathunga told media that the Customs has not permitted the National Cooperative Trust to release the stock of cement they imported to the market.
He said the Customs only permitted the state importers to take the stock to their stores keeping only the specimens in the custody of Customs Department. Accordingly, out of the 25 containers of cement, 22 were moved away from the Customs.
The official said the containers are needed to be opened before a relevant authority of the Customs Department and no such official had gone to the stores.
He further stated that the cement could not be issued to the market without the SLS certificate. He pointed out that legal action should be initiated against the persons if anyone had opened the containers and issued the cement to the market without SLS certificate.
Under the Customs Ordinance, such stocks should be either sent back to the destination of its origin or be destroyed.
Ironically, the importers and retailers are both belonged to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade and the Consumer Affairs Authority that is to act against such violations also comes under the same Ministry.
No comments:
Post a Comment