Central Cargo Examination Division

Head Lines

• Mission and Vision

• Who we are

• What we do

• Examination levels

• Risk management

• Locations & Contacts

Mission and Vision

Examination of cargo in respect of Customs Declarations (CusDecs) processed in the Colombo Long Room by adopting risk management techniques in order to achieve the Department objectives, Vision and Mission.

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Who we are

Central Cargo Examination Division which generally known as CCED was started in 1994 with the introduction of ASYCUDA computer system to Sri Lanka Customs. Being the main cargo surveillance and examination arm of Sri Lanka Customs, CCED is presently operating at number of examination facilities within and outside the Port of Colombo.

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What we do

Central Cargo Examination Division (CCED) is responsible to verify whether the details declared on the CusDecs are actually in conformity with the goods that are imported. This is mainly to safeguard the revenue and to meet the social obligations to protect the society while facilitating legitimate trade. The CusDecs are selected for examination by adopting risk management techniques. Low risk consignments are released with minimum delays to facilitate trade while focusing cargo examination on high-risk goods.

The CusDecs are scrutinized by a panel of officers attached to the office called Screening Unit located in the Long Room, which selects the high-risk, medium risk and low risk consignments for examination purpose by adopting risk management techniques. They are guided by the Director (CCED) and the Risk Management Committee of the Department.

At present there are three container cargo (FCL) examination yards namely PVCT, Grayline 1 and Grayline 2. The PVCT is located inside the port and the two Grayline yards are located outside the port. The FCLs that are removed from the port for examination at Grayline yards are controlled by an office named as Doc Center.

The movement of these containers are controlled and monitored by using a software called Cargo Control System until the cargo is released after examination at the Grayline yards.

There are three other examination points, two within the port and one outside the port, to examine LCL cargo. The two within the port namely BQ and JCT The one outside the port, at Nuge road, which could be considered as a dry-port.

High-risk and medium-risk goods are examined at above examination points. High-risk goods are subjected to detail examination and medium risk goods are examined to a lesser extent depending on the risk factors.Low-risk goods are released either without any cargo examination or examination at the importers premises by a panel of officers.Such examinations are called outside examinations and a panel of officers, one staff officer and an appraiser, are appointed for this purpose by the CCED main office.

With regard to goods which require approvals from Food Authority, SLSI, Plant Quarantine and Animal Quarantine, the goods are examined along with the officers of those institutions.In the event, if samples need to be analysed for approval, depending on the risk involved, sometimes goods are released to the importers on a guarantee that the goods will be not disposed until the approval is granted from the relevant authority.The CusDec will be finalized only after the approval is notified to the respective Customs office which released the goods on the guarantee.

There are two other Deputy Directors to supervise container movements within the port, i.e. within SAGT, SLPA and Nuge Road dry-port. They are also responsible for wharf administration.

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Examination levels

100% Examination : Consignment is subjected to in depth examination in all aspects including it’s description, contents, quantity, H.S.classification ,value, and all other import regulations.

Detail Examination : Consignment is examined to a sufficient degree including description, quantity, value etc. However based on the finding examination may extend to the level of 100 % examination.

Panel Examination : A cursory examination is carried out to verify whether the consignment is in conformity with the declaration. However based on the preliminary findings, the examination may extend to a higher level described above.

FCL importations made by reputed companies and regular companies without previous bad records are granted panel examination to be carried out at their go-down.

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Risk management

The Division will continue to improve its risk management techniques.Further application of automation and X-ray examination of FCLs are to be implemented during the year 2006.Human resources development and management is the main focus. The importers with good track record will be identified and their cargo will be released with minimum delays.

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Locations & Contacts

The main office of the CCED is in the Imports Division building at the Colombo sea port. The Director, Dr. N. Goonewardena, Deputy Directors, Mr. K. Ranjan and Mr.S. Rajendran are attached to this office (Telefax 2347882 and Tel 2344807).

The PVCT is located inside the port and the two Grayline yards are located outside the port. The Grayline 1 at Orugodawatta (Tel 4410816) is supervised by Deputy Director Mr. C.N. Rajaratnam and Grayline 2 at Thotalanga (Tel 4619612) is supervised by Deputy Director Mr. D.A.I.D. Daranagama. A few FCLs are examined at the PVCT (Tel 2389661) and this also supervised by Mr.C.N. Rajaratnam (DDC).

Doc Center is supervised by Deputy Director Mr. K.K. Balachandran (Tel 2347883).BQ (Tel 2337075) and JCT (Tel 2438089) are supervised by Assistant Directors Mr. A Welikala and Mr. M. Thayabaran respectively. Nuge road, is supervised by Deputy Director Mr. Thalagalarachchi.

Two Deputy Directors to supervise container movements within the port, i.e. within SAGT, SLPA and Nuge Road dry-port, namely Mr.S. Kunchithapathan and Mr. K.P. Perera (Tel 2446537).

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