Govt. keen to re-export consignments without proper probe: JVP

30 March 2021 01:08 pm - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today alleged that the government was bothered about re-exporting the consignment of inferior quality cooking oil imported to Sri Lanka without taking steps to conduct an investigation into the incident and ensure that such an incident would not take place again in the future.

JVP Politburo member Sunil Hadunnetti told a news conference that re-exporting the consignments was not the solution to the issue.

“The Government should conduct an investigation as to who should take the responsibility, what loopholes have led to enter such inferior quality stock of coconut oil into the country and also whether the stocks have been released to the market,” he said.

He said it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that people are provided with healthy and nutritious food.

“People have no chance to test the quality of the food in the market. State institutions such as Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI), Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) and the Health Ministry are tasked with the responsibility to ensure the quality of the food. People have to trust the guarantee these state institutes have given on food available in the market,” he said.

Mr. Haddunnetti said it was wrong for the Customs Department to release the consignments to the private warehouses of the importers adding that customs officers cannot guarantee that the stocks are not released to the market.

He said similar issues were reported in the past with regard to the import of milk powder and canned fish which were unfit for human consumption and pointed out that no permanent solution was introduced to the issues. (Ajith Siriwardana)

Pix by Damith Wickramasinghe

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Comments - 6

Borat Tuesday, 30 March 2021 01:50 PM

Yes of course the identity of perpetrators can be hidden without prosecution. Like perpetual will give money back and file closed that is present system of shielding criminals

European Tuesday, 30 March 2021 02:06 PM

Why does Sri Lanka import coconut oil? Almost all coconut products here are imported from Sri Lanka

Thimothy joseph Tuesday, 30 March 2021 02:53 PM

This government when ruling in the past too was very famous for bringing down items that are not suited for human consumption. Remember they brought coconut from India and dumped them in the sea.. No one was put behind bars for wasting colossal amount of public money. Then they brought rice and was thrown. Inferior petrol and so many engine got seized before they were sent back. So nothing new hear,, when corruption is at peak these things are nothing but a day to day activity only.

Prof Lasantha Pethiyagoda Tuesday, 30 March 2021 02:58 PM

In a corrupt country with bribes being offered and taken with impunity, it is no wonder that the contaminated oil is either released to the importer or allowed to be sold etc despite them not passing the lab tests for purity. Aflatoxins are carcinogenic and if present in such oil, poses a very serious threat to public health.

Patriot Tuesday, 30 March 2021 03:22 PM

Also government should confiscate the oil and allow local refining to remove all the poisonous substances and sale to the market instead of re-exporting, this will be an additional income for the government but nothing should be paid to importers.

Demuni Uduwara Wednesday, 31 March 2021 06:50 AM

No penalties of the offence!

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Govt. keen to re-export consignments without proper probe: JVP

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