A few fraudulent businessmen pocketed the advantage: Amaraweera

13 March 2021 07:23 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Government intended to provide relief to the people by reducing tariff on sugar, but a handful of fraudulent businessmen pocketed the advantage, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

He said that although our country has a large supply of minerals, a bulk of them is exported as raw materials. He said the country had lost the opportunity to earn a proper income from the mineral industry as a result.

“Every government has made some efforts in this regard. But, it is still difficult to export as value added products. Therefore, the Government’s objective in the future is to produce and export the resources of our country as value added products. For example, Calcite, which is used in many products including pharmaceuticals. But it is currently being exported to foreign countries at a price of around Rs. 3.50 per kilo. However, it has been decided to set up a factory in the Balangoda area to export the mineral resource as a value added product as calcium carbonate powder.

Accordingly, the President has instructed all Ministries to take steps to export all the mineral resources and other products of our country as value added products in exports, the Minister said.

When Journalists inquired from the Minister as to whether fraud had taken place regarding the sugar tax, he said, “The Government reduced the sugar tax to provide relief to the people. But the benefit did not go to the people. It seems that a group of leading racketeers in this country have pocketed that advantage.

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Comments - 17

Joshua Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:10 AM

And some of the profits to the useless politicians?

kumar Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:11 AM

so why didn't you apply the same rule to Bond scam but instead applied interest on loss. If interest is also added the sugar scam might exceed Rs,25 Billion. an that too at a time people are faced with severe financial restrictions and thereby the alternative costs are very much more.

RoaringCreek Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:18 AM

Ah! You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. Abraham Lincoln

E Fernando Saturday, 13 March 2021 05:29 PM

our people can be fooled over and over again, haven't you noticed.

RoaringCreek Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:19 AM

Come clean man. Why reduce from Rs.50 to cents 25. Explain and who reduced the price.

RoaringCreek Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:20 AM

Uncle, this is the biggest looting in Sri Lanka history and you can just get off the hook. We are waiting to see the results of the next election.

BE FAIR Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:29 AM

I think it was a business opportunity

Jude Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:43 AM

Hey Amare, Konde Bandapuu cheenunnta owa kiyapan !!!

Sunil Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:46 AM

The government and these unscrupulous businessmen were aware of the plot all along.

FF Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:54 AM

THE TAX WAS REDUCED INTENTIONALLY TO HELP THE BUSINESS MEN AND ALSO TO FILL UP THEIR POCKETS

Sambo Saturday, 13 March 2021 09:57 AM

This government is not giving relief to the poor but to the rich.

HuduHiru Saturday, 13 March 2021 01:19 PM

haha...you all are fraudulent jokers

Senaka Saturday, 13 March 2021 01:27 PM

I am the baby in the team. Don't know anything about this.

Peacemaker Saturday, 13 March 2021 03:08 PM

So you don’t know anything, you’re a baby, you have to come up with a better lie next time if you want to save rajapaksas’ asses

MV Silva Saturday, 13 March 2021 04:37 PM

If the Minister knows the businessmen who profitted, advise Inland Revenue to collect the money due aas taxes. This Minister and the Govt know the businessmen and do not want to do anything as these rogues paid for their election campaigns. The minister should come clean!!!

idiot Saturday, 13 March 2021 04:46 PM

the corrupt bussiness People are supporters of the rajapaksa clan.wonder how much the rajapaksas made on These deal

Ralaharamy Saturday, 13 March 2021 04:54 PM

Did any trader sell sugar at the reduced price? If they did not why did your government take action against those traders? Where was our voice all these days?

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A few fraudulent businessmen pocketed the advantage: Amaraweera

Comments - 17

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