Import of 102 container loads of rotten fish: Role played by Customs, etc., raised at COPE

Officials of the Department of Import and Export Control appearing before the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE)

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Department of Import and Export Control has said that it cannot confirm whether 98 container loads of rotten fish brought into the Colombo Port a couple of years ago had been used for producing fertiliser, as claimed by a local fertiliser manufacturer ,who also runs a canned fish factory.

This transpired recently when the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) questioned the Department of Import and Export Control over its failure to keep track of the massive stock of rotten fish that had been brought into the country on a request made to the Department by Customs on behalf of the fertiliser manufacturer.

State Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna chaired the meeting that was attended by MPs Prasanna Ranaweera, J. C. Alawathuwala, Ashok Abeysinghe, Isuru Dodangoda and Weerasumana Weerasinghe.

Officers of the Auditor General’s Department told the House committee that though the relevant authorities declared that 98 container loads of rotten fish had been allowed in, they believed that the total consignment consisted of 102 containers.

Expressing concern over the missing container loads of spoilt fish, the AG Department officials stressed that they couldn’t be sure of the use of spoilt fish for the intended purpose.

During the proceedings, the Department of Import and Export Control claimed that of the 98 container loads of spoilt fish, only 43 had been utilised in the manufacture of carbonic and the rest were to be re-exported. Of that unused lot, 15 container loads had been used to produce compost under the supervision of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) according to the Department of Import and Export Control.

However, the AG Department maintained that there was no way to ascertain the usage of the spoilt fish. The AG Department brought the operation of a canned fish manufacturing plant by the fertiliser producer prompting COPE Chairman lawmaker Alagiyawanna to summon all concerned, including the spoilt fish importer.

The COPE Chairman asked the Department of Import and Export Control to put in place a mechanism to ensure proper scrutiny of such imports.

The issue came up when the Department of Import and Export appeared before COPE on January 23 to explain its position with regard to the AGs reports on 2021 and 2022. The COPE was told how Customs, on behalf of a local fertiliser producer, sought to secure the entire consignment of spoilt fish after Thailand refused to accept that load.

A container carrier on its way to Thailand from Seychelles had lost its power due to a technical defect and their failure to rectify the problem resulted in the ruination of the entire stock, the COPE was told.However, the proceedings hadn’t shed light on how the importer dealt with the unused consignments.