The World Customs Organisation was established in 1952 as the Customs Cooperation Council for Customs cooperation by 17 European countries. This international organization soon spread throughout the world and Sri Lanka became a member in 1967. In 1994, the Customs Cooperation Council was renamed as the World Customs Organization. The first session of the Customs Cooperation Council was held on January 26, 1953, in Brussels, Belgium. Therefore, 26th January was designated as International Customs Day by the World Customs Organisation. Accordingly, International Customs Day is celebrated by the Customs administrations of all the member countries on 26th January every year. The theme of this year’s International Customs Day has been declared by the World Customs Organization as “Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem”.
Hon. Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Youth, Sports, Minister of Development Coordination and Monitoring and State Minister of Digital Technology and Enterprise Development, who addressed the event, commended Sri Lanka Customs for providing its services using digital technology. Speaking at the event, Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Minister of Ports and Shipping, described the contribution of the Sri Lanka Customs and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to the country’s economy through collaboration. Director General of Customs Retired Major General G. V. Ravipriya addressed the event and described the progress made by Sri Lanka Customs in providing their services using digital technology. The message issued by the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya praising the progress of Sri Lanka Customs and wishing them a happy Customs Day was also announced during the event.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of Certificates by the World Customs Organization to thirty-five Customs officers who had worked for the betterment of the Customs and public and private sector officials who have contributed to the economic development of the country in collaboration with the Customs. The certificates were presented to the officers by the Hon. Namal Rajapaksa and the Hon. Rohitha Abeygunawardena.
