News Today: Minister Bimal Ratnayake Challenges Opposition Leader to Prove Allegations

Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Minister Bimal Ratnayake has issued a direct challenge to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, urging him to prove his allegations regarding the clearance of containers allegedly linked to Governor Hanif Yusuf. The minister demanded that Premadasa file an official complaint instead of making baseless accusations.

“People like Sajith Premadasa, who protect thieves, do not understand the value of public trust. Only we know its value. We challenge those who accused us of container clearance to come forward and file a proper complaint,” Ratnayake stated in a media briefing.

The Minister emphasized that the Sri Lanka Customs Department had already issued an official statement confirming that no containers belonging to Hanif Yusuf or any of his companies had been cleared under suspicious circumstances.

Opposition Leader Urged to Make Formal Complaint

“We challenge Sajith Premadasa and his party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, to file a formal complaint if they truly believe in their accusations,” Ratnayake said. He further criticized the opposition for spreading rumors based on social media speculation instead of presenting concrete evidence.

“Do not spread falsehoods on social media. If you have any accusations against us, make them properly. Do not just say it was on Facebook—make a direct accusation,” he charged.

Customs Department Clarifies Container Clearance

Meanwhile, Customs Media Spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda, speaking at a press conference, provided clarifications on the matter. He stated that the questioned containers were cleared on January 18, 2025, under a post-clearance audit and that no external influence was involved.

He added, “By that morning, around 2,900 containers had accumulated in the port. Of these, 2,800 containers had been delayed for 7–8 days due to a lack of available lorries for transportation. The committee reviewed the relevant documents and released the containers under post-clearance audit, following the guidelines provided by senior management.”

Arukgoda dismissed claims that the release of containers was politically influenced. “The containers in question mainly contained raw materials needed for industrial purposes. Media reports suggested that these were released due to political connections, but this is entirely false. None of the containers belonging to the organization in question were cleared without a proper inspection,” he asserted.

No Evidence of Weapons, Gold, or Drug Smuggling

Addressing further accusations, Arukgoda strongly denied speculation that the containers might have contained weapons, gold, or drugs.

“In my 35 years of service, including during the LTTE war, there have been no instances where weapons were smuggled through containers. Gold smuggling through containers has never occurred, and the majority of successful drug seizures by Sri Lanka Customs have been based on intelligence operations,” he emphasized.

Political Tensions Continue Over Allegations

The debate surrounding the container clearance issue has intensified political tensions, with Minister Bimal Ratnayake standing firm against the accusations from the opposition. As the government defends its position, it remains to be seen whether Sajith Premadasa will take up the challenge and file a formal complaint.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing political controversy.