The order to release the Karunka stocks was made by a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice - K. Sripavan, Justice Priyantha Jayawardena and Justice Eva Wanasundara.

However, in a letter to the two companies concerned, the Customs have said that they require Attorney General advice to release the containers.

The advice to overlook the court order is said to have been given by Acting Customs DG - R. Semasinghe, who is currently in South Korea.

Although the Assistant DGs have decided to comply with the court order, Semasinghe has opposed it, internal sources say.

The Customs Bonding Branch where several branch members were linked to the notorious 125 million-rupee bribe incident is said to be where much opposition is raised against the release of the containers.