The Sri Lanka Customs today repatriated the last 45 containers of 263 containers filled with waste that arrived from Britain, which has been the subject of much controversy.
The containers were shipped back to Britain this morning by the vessel Ever Genius, which arrived at the CICT terminal at the Colombo Port yesterday.
The ship is scheduled to leave the Port of Colombo around 8 tonight.
In 2019, an investigation by the Social Protection Division of the Sri Lanka Customs found 263 containers containing clinical waste, used cushions and mattresses, plastic waste and unsorted and hazardous waste imported into the country from Britain.
It was revealed that 133 containers had been deposited at the Port of Colombo and the remaining 130 containers had already been cleared from the port and stored at the premises of a private company operating under the Board of Investment in Katunayake.
According to the Customs investigation, the containers were imported contrary to provisions of the Basel Convention and in violation of the provisions of the National Environmental Act and the Customs Ordinance.
During the Customs investigation, the Centre for Environmental Justice filed a case before the Court of Appeal.
Court issued an ordered that the 263 containers be repatriated to Britain with immediate effect.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka Customs took action to ship 133 containers of garbage in 2020.
In addition, Sri Lanka Customs secured 130 containers stored at a private company premises in Katunayake and re-exported 85 containers to Britain on nine occasions during the past year.
Sri Lanka Customs will take further action under provisions of the Customs Ordinance against individuals and institutions involved in the illegal activity.
