DM calls for ban on wheat flour and fruit imports

7 December 2011 09:25 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne today called for the total ban of wheat flour imports so that people could shift towards consuming rice flour.

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget in the House Mr. Jayaratne said the price of bread should be increased as much as possible so that it would be impossible for the people to purchase bread and wheat flour products.

He said rice flour would be an ideal replacement for wheat flour. “Some say rice flour does not expand as wheat flour but one could prepare rotti or a similar delicacy instead of bread,” he said. The Prime Minister also called for the total ban of the importation of fruits to the country. (Yohan Perera and Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 16

Misunderstood Wednesday, 07 December 2011 10:39 AM

if no bread, eat cake!!

DonQuixote Wednesday, 07 December 2011 10:51 AM

Yeah yeah tell them to eat cake.....we have heard that one before !

Vandura Wednesday, 07 December 2011 10:54 AM

The citizens of the banana republic can eat banana's now.

DHA Wednesday, 07 December 2011 11:05 AM

Thinking of increasing bread prices again ????

willows Wednesday, 07 December 2011 11:28 AM

good idea, what about piduru???

hansanh Wednesday, 07 December 2011 12:18 PM

Good idea DM do it, Finnaly you are talking sence.

Lal G. Wednesday, 07 December 2011 12:47 PM

Talk sense Hon PM

mastermind Wednesday, 07 December 2011 12:48 PM

DM. you got the best brains in the country..

SureshP Wednesday, 07 December 2011 12:47 PM

Proper awareness will make people choose the right thing. They should not be forced to eat what other think are right.

vuusa Wednesday, 07 December 2011 01:02 PM

Punnakku should be allowed to eat.

Citizen Wednesday, 07 December 2011 01:10 PM

Very Good Sir,

We can eat Manioc! You all EAT the country to your hearts content; we will eat manioc for our hunger!!

psap Wednesday, 07 December 2011 01:24 PM

Thats right. Should also totally ban import of petrol and diesel so that people can shift to bullock carts.

sue Wednesday, 07 December 2011 01:32 PM

DM, Fruit is good for everyone including you and why shouldn't we enjoy the fruits from other countries.

AJ Thursday, 08 December 2011 06:09 AM

Can these ministers practice what they preach...
Their children are given all the luxuries and the poor man does not even have access to bread :-(

Dismanirie Thursday, 08 December 2011 07:28 AM

Ban the import of wheat flour and you will have a shortfall of over 1 million tonnes of grain in the Sri Lankan diet, which will have to be made up by rice imports, since the domestic agriculture does not have the capacity to make up the shortfall. The subsidy on wheat flour is already removed, but bread is still consumed, proving that there is demand for the product.
Also what happens to the tens of thousands of bakers and their employees when wheat flour is no longer imported? You cannot bake bread with rice flour.
Jayaratne has been banging this drum for too long; time to realise that in a democracy people should have choices and not be dictated to by attention seeking politicians.

Anonymous Thursday, 08 December 2011 07:39 AM

Our dependence on a crop that cannot be grown in Sri Lanka is shocking, not to mention the high cost and carbon footprint we're incurring to import it. However, the low income middleman will suffer by what you're proposing. PM's intentions are good but he should be a bit more practical in executing it...

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DM calls for ban on wheat flour and fruit imports

Comments - 16

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