Investigations into the importation of 130 containers of used mattresses takes a new twist with the owner of Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation (Pvt) Ltd,. Sasikumaran Muthurama taking over the responsibility of garbage imports from UK.
He stepped into absolve Hayleys Free Zone Ltd from their involvement of the deal claiming that this company had been accused over this incident unfairly.
In another development relating to garbage saga, ETL Colombo (Pvt) Ltd categorically denied allegations against them as the importer of the 130 containers of “Used Mattresses” brought to Hayleys Free Zone, Katunayake for reprocessing and re-export as legally permitted by the entrepot regulations.
The actual owner and the key stakeholder of the said cargo is Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation (Pvt) Ltd (hitherto referred to as CMPC).
ETL Colombo was the third party that facilitated the shipment process as a Freight Forwarding Company, in full compliance of the applicable entrepot laws and rules, company stated.
ETL Colombo is a Class A registered freight forwarding company under the directives of the Merchant Shipping Act in Sri Lanka and has always conducted its business in an ethical and legal manner.
The documentation clarifies that ETL Colombo was appointed by CMPC, As the Freight Forwarder for CMPC’s cargo.
ETL Colombo on behalf of CMPC entered into an agreement with Hayleys Free Zone, who would provide the services of Customs clearance, appropriate storage, reprocessing of the cargo as agreed with CMPC and re-export of the cargo, the company said.
The British government has also launched an investigation as Sri Lankan authorities have claimed that they would return over 100 shipping containers since they appeared to contain human remains disguised as recyclable metals.
The Telegraph in the UK reports that officials at the Colombo Port made the horrifying discovery while investigating a strong smell emanating from 111 containers which had been imported to the docks over the past two years.
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) wrote to the BASEL Convention Secretariat regarding the importation of 111 containers of hazardous waste from United Kingdom, while requesting the Government Analyst for an expert analysis of the contents.
The waste containers, which have been imported to the country on several occasions since March 2018 from the UK via UK company Vengaads limited, have remained in Colombo Port after the Ceylon Metal Processing Corporation Limited failed to clear the containers, Customs Spokesperson Sunil Jayaratne confirmed.
The Board of Investment (BOI) yesterday said it has directed Hayleys Free Zone Limited to re-export the cargo remaining in the Katunayake Export Processing Zone on or before August 12, and also prohibited all hub operators from importing post-consumer materials for re-export or any other process.
The BOI in an extensive statement also said it had on 26 January 2018 warned the Hayleys Free Zone Limited to suspend future shipments of used material, re-ship all such cargo in one month, and suspend all such imports without prior approval from the BOI and the Central Environmental Agency (CEA).
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