Rear Admiral (Retd) Shemal Fernando's appointment as the new Director General of Sri Lanka Customs has sparked fierce protest from many quarters. 

The Cabinet of ministers approved Fernando's appointment as the new Director General of the Customs Department. 

Customs officers working at the Colombo Port launched a trade union action yesterday demanding the removal of Fernando. 

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Association (SASA) also issued a hard-hitting statement today raising vehement objections to the former Navy officer's appointment. 

They said it was always the norm to appoint an official from the Sri Lanka Administrative Serice as the Director General of Customs. 

Former Director General Of Customs, S.Charles, was a senior official of Sri Lanka Administrative Service.