Financial Times

A recent strike by Customs officers over an alleged assault on one of their members by security personnel at the Colombo airport has cost the government and the industry millions of rupees, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) said recently.

An isolated event of alleged indiscipline by security personnel attached to the airport on May 23 resulted in a sudden work stoppage by all customs officers, paralysing import/export trade for two days. “The appended costs to business and economy are yet to be established but will be substantial. The long-term impact on competitiveness of exports that largely depend on meeting delivery deadlines, will undoubtedly be adverse,” the CCC said. However the chamber said the Customs Officers’ action to resort to an unannounced work stoppage cannot be condoned, whatever the provocation may have been.

“There appears to be a growing and an undesirable belief that it is only disruptive action of this nature that brings about speedy intervention of authorities. This is a dangerous trend which the higher echelons of government need to make a note of. We urge the authorities to ensure that particularly in vital state institutions dispute resolution mechanisms are in place and operate in a manner that does not disrupt the day to day life of the country. Lack of discipline at all levels of government agencies, is the root cause for events such as the alleged assault on a customs officers and the consequent work stoppage. Enforcing strict discipline and expeditiously inquiring into the incident and taking punitive action are the needs of the hour,” the statement said.