The Director General of Sri Lanka Customs has strongly condemned Airport and Aviation Services (Private) Limited (AASL) for installing five CCTV surveillance cameras within Customs-controlled areas at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
Sri Lanka Customs has deemed the installation unauthorised and raised serious concerns over its impact on operational security, legal authority, and the overall integrity of border enforcement.
Upon inquiry by Sri Lanka Customs, AASL reportedly stated that the installation was carried out under the directive of its Chairman, in consultation with the Minister of Aviation, and based on a decision made by the National Security Council (NSC).
According to Sri Lanka Customs, AASL has stated that live surveillance footage from these areas will not be shared with the Customs.
Additionally, Customs officers must obtain prior approval from AASL to access past recordings of activities within legally designated Customs areas. This move, Customs asserts, undermines the legal authority vested in it by the Customs Ordinance (No. 235) and other national laws, as AASL appears to be asserting control beyond its jurisdiction.
Sri Lanka Customs has expressed deep concerns, stressing the need for immediate corrective measures to uphold its legal mandate and border security responsibilities.
Sri Lanka Customs has reaffirmed its exclusive legal authority to examine passenger baggage and passengers within Customs-controlled areas, stating that AASL has no jurisdiction to inspect baggage or access video feeds of Customs examination areas.
Customs stressed that AASL is established within the airport to facilitate the operations of regulatory authorities, including Sri Lanka Customs, and not to impose regulations on Customs itself. Further, any measures or activities conducted within Customs premises must receive prior approval from Sri Lanka Customs.
Failure to comply, Customs warned, would leave them with no choice but to initiate legal action to ensure adherence to regulations and the uninterrupted execution of their responsibilities.
In a letter dated 7 March 2025, addressed to AASL Chairman, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrema, Director General of Sri Lanka Customs P.B.S.C. Nonis stated that on 22 February 2025, AASL—operating as a limited liability company under the Civil Aviation Authority’s airport security guidelines—unilaterally installed five CCTV cameras within Customs-controlled areas. This installation, he noted, was carried out arbitrarily, without prior consultation or approval from the Director General of Customs.
Chairman Harsha Abeywickrema was unavailable for comment despite multiple attempts to reach him via WhatsApp messages and phone calls. The DG Customs has strongly criticised the unauthorised installation of CCTV cameras within Customs-controlled areas at BIA, stating that it constitutes a clear violation of the designated authority of AASL within the Customs premises. It was stressed that these cameras, which were already under Customs surveillance, were installed without prior approval, raising serious concerns over regulatory oversight and security protocols.
“As the primary gatekeeper at the border, Sri Lanka Customs operates within a broader security framework where national security is a key priority, encompassing not only Customs enforcement but also airport security. Any action that bypasses established protocols compromises this mandate and undermines regulatory oversight,” the letter from the Director General stated.
The Customs Chairman further noted that at the time of installation, Customs officials had cooperated in good faith under the explicit condition that the CCTV feed, particularly from cameras focused on goods examination areas, would be shared exclusively with Sri Lanka Customs. However, despite multiple requests and reminders, Customs has not been granted access to these feeds.
In a communication dated 28 February 2025, AASL’s Head of Security disclosed that the video feed from four of the five cameras is being accessed exclusively by the Head of Security, the AASL Chairman, and an undisclosed investigative team. However, no clarification was provided regarding access rights to the fifth camera, which is directly focused on the Customs goods examination area.
Further, it was revealed that these individuals have full authority to control and monitor the feed, while Sri Lanka Customs — despite being the legally empowered authority within the Customs Aerodrome — must now seek permission from the AASL Chairman to access past surveillance footage.
“This is deeply concerning,” Sri Lanka Customs stated, “as the legally mandated authority within the Customs Aerodrome is now required to seek approval from a third-party limited liability company to obtain surveillance data from its own premises, particularly within a highly sensitive Customs examination area.”
Sri Lanka Customs also reiterated that the entirety of BIA is classified as a “Customs Aerodrome” under Gazette No. 9753 of 22 August 1947, and is governed by the Customs Ordinance (No. 235). Under this legal framework, Customs exercises full authority over all movements of goods, passengers, crew, and service providers within the airport. This includes exclusive jurisdiction over security measures within Customs-controlled areas, where AASL’s role is strictly to facilitate regulatory authorities — including Sri Lanka Customs — in carrying out their operations.
(Sulochana Ramiah Mohan – Ceylon Today)
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