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Smuggled Shoes Flood Sri Lanka’s Upmarket Retailers – A Shocking Exposé by Neville Pereira..!

-By Staff Writer

(Lanka-e-News -02.Feb.2025, 11.00 PM) In a shocking revelation, Neville Pereira, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Footwear and Leather Goods Manufacturers Association, has exposed a thriving underground trade in smuggled footwear that is allegedly undermining the local industry. According to Pereira, most shoes sold in Colombo’s high-end retail shops and shopping complexes are illegally brought into the country, bypassing hefty import taxes and duties.

A Price That Doesn’t Add Up

Pereira asserts that it is impossible to sell a shoe for just Rs. 1,000, given the substantial import taxation and additional duties levied on legally imported goods. However, unscrupulous importers—unregistered and untraceable—are reportedly flooding the market with shoes smuggled in from Dubai, with the assistance of corrupt customs officers. These illicitly imported shoes, Pereira claims, are distributed through small demo vans and then stocked in premium retail outlets without a single rupee paid in import duties.

Customs Corruption at the Core

The allegations extend to Sri Lanka’s customs officers, particularly those stationed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). Pereira claims that some officers calculate their daily earnings based on the bribes they expect to receive for allowing smuggled goods to pass through unchecked. According to him, this smuggling racket is not an occasional occurrence but an organized and ongoing operation raking in billions of rupees.

Counterfeit Brands, Publicly Available

Although Pereira refrained from naming specific brands for legal reasons, he confirmed that many of the smuggled shoes are counterfeit versions of popular global brands. These knock-offs, brought in through the ‘green channel’ at customs, are then sold openly to unsuspecting consumers who believe they are purchasing genuine products. This unchecked trade is not just an economic issue but also a growing concern for intellectual property rights violations and consumer fraud.

A Call for Action

Pereira’s revelations highlight the urgent need for a crackdown on this illicit trade. He urged Sri Lanka’s new government, led by the National People’s Power (NPP), to take decisive action against corrupt customs officials and unscrupulous importers. He pointed out that previous politically appointed officials turned a blind eye to such malpractices, but now is the time for real accountability.

A Growing Economic Cancer

Describing the smuggling racket as a ‘cancer’ that is eating away at the country’s economy, Pereira warned that local shoe manufacturers are struggling to compete against these illegally imported products. Without intervention, Sri Lanka’s domestic footwear industry risks collapsing under the weight of unfair competition.

Will the Government Step Up?

Despite multiple exposés and industry warnings, Sri Lankan authorities have yet to take decisive action. With the spotlight now on the customs department, the police, and policymakers, all eyes are on the NPP government to see whether they will finally put an end to this black market trade or allow it to continue thriving in broad daylight.