A inventory of 600 metric tonnes of illegally imported brown sugar was seized by Sri Lanka Customs right now (06 Jan.).
The consignment is believed to have been imported from India, underneath the guise of importing white sugar, owing to the continued ban on the importation of brown sugar.
Accordingly, a inventory of 1,200 metric tonnes of white sugar had been imported, amidst which 600 metric tonnes of brown sugar was discovered.
The complete consignment of sugar has been estimated at a worth of Rs. 241 million, whereas the inventory of brown sugar is because of be confiscated, authorities stated.
State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, too, inspected the sugar consignment in query with officers belonging to Sri Lanka Customs.
Throughout his inspection, Siyambalapitiya said that there’s a ban in place for the importation of brown sugar, as it’s manufactured in Sri Lanka, thus nullifying the necessity to spend on its importation amidst Sri Lanka’s acute greenback disaster.
Chatting with the media throughout his inspection, the State Minister urged the general public to contact Sri Lanka Customs through their 24-hour hotline 011 2 481 471, or the Director Basic of Customs on 011 2 347 881 within the occasion any suspicions come up pertaining to the unlawful shares of sugar being offered.
