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The big onion stink
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Forty five tonnes of big onions which were not fit for human consumption stored at several Lanka Sathosa warehouses were seized after a special raid was conducted by the Consumer Affairs Authority.
The raid was conducted in three warehouses situated in McCallum Road, Colombo, Kurunegala and Welisara which stored the big onions.
Sources said that the stored onions were to be released to the market in the near future. Minister of Internal Trade and Cooperatives Johnston Fernando had received a tip-off just before they were released to the market and the raid was conducted on his directive.
Upon receiving the tip regarding the soiled big onions, the authorities had directed officials in the three areas to simultaneously conduct the raid in all three warehouses.
Initial investigations revealed that the onions were imported from India and were bought from a local businessman from Dambulla. The purchase had taken place under the pretext of helping local farmers through purchase by the Ministry.
Sources at the Ministry said that during the past months, the Ministry had not called for tenders for the purchase of big onions from local traders. The purchase of the imported stock had taken place due to this relaxing of regulations. The Ministry said each kilo had been purchased at 65 rupees.
The Minister had subsequently ordered the immediate suspension of service of all officials and employees who were a part of the purchase.
The entire stock of big onions was taken into custody by the Consumer Affairs Authority who had been directed to take legal action against all those responsible by CAA Chairman Rumy Marzook. (Yohan Perera and Ajanatha Kumara Agalakada)
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