The Main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has accused the NPP government of creating a cartel of food importers at the expense of local farmers.
Alleging that the politically connected, large-scale importers had access to inside information, such as imposition of duties/levies, SJB Matale District MP Rohini Kaviratne said the government had given them free rein.
Addressing a gathering, in Matale, recently, MP Kaviratne claimed that the government had changed the import polices related to food items for the benefit of a few importers. The Opposition MP alleged that the new importers were not those who are based in Pettah, or Dambulla; they were a group of deal makers whose only intension was to make money.
The MP cited the Finance Ministry’s failure to impose a Special Commodity Levy (SCL) on imported big onions on time to the alleged unholy alliance between the government and big businesses. Lawmaker Kaviratne pointed out that during the first eight months of last year, Sri Lanka imported only 73, 332 mt of big onions whereas during the same period this year big onion imports had risen to 144,551 mt.
Referring to sugar imports, the SJBer pointed out Sri Lanka brought in 223,144 mt during first six months in 2024 while this year during the same period, sugar imports rose to 343,416 mt.
Recalling the sugar tax scam alleged to have been perpetrated by the SLPP government, MP Kaviratne said that the NPP was going ahead with sordid operations while accusing all other political parties of corruption. (SF)