The Commissioner General of Essential Services, Major General NDSP, said that 29,900 metric tons of sugar found hidden in warehouses were taken over by the government after an investigation and operation yesterday (01).
The consignment of sugar is planned to be sold to the public by state and private traders at a controlled price.
The import duty of Rs. 50 per kilo of sugar has been reduced to 25 cents from October 14, 2020, to provide relief to consumers. The amount of sugar in the country at that time was 88,878 metric tons.
According to the Consumer Affairs Authority, 5,84,000 metric tons of sugar was imported between October 14, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The monthly demand for sugar in the country is around 35,000 metric tons.
However, data from the Consumer Affairs Authority reveals that sugar imports have exceeded the annual sugar requirement.
An attempt has been made in the recent past to create an artificial shortage of sugar in the country and to sell sugar at a very high price, causing great inconvenience to the consumer.
Because of the issue, emergency regulations regarding the provision of essential food has been announced by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with effect from midnight 2021-08-30 in accordance vested in it by Section 2 of the Public Security Ordinance, Enforcing the provisions of Part IIi of that Ordinance, Prepared in accordance with the provisions of Article 5.
Accordingly, the President appointed a Commissioner General of Essential Services and authorized him to coordinate the distribution of paddy, rice, sugar and other consumer goods required for the normal functioning of the people.
The Commissioner General of Essential Services states that the government has taken steps to seize the hidden sugar stocks and release them to the market at a controlled price in order to protect the consumers.
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