News

Company probed over contaminated coconut oil imports among them

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/1

Sahan Weerasooriya

Hoarded sugar stocks belong to three importers -Minister

By Shamindra Ferdinando

State Minister of Co-operative Services, Marketing Development and Consumer Protection Lasantha Alagiyawanna, yesterday (31) said that a large stock of hoarded sugar, detected with the information provided by Derana journalists, belonged to three importers.

Asked whether he could name the culprits and explain the status of the investigation, SLFPer Alagiyawanna told The Island that the importers would be named at a media briefing on Wednesday (1).

During raids carried out since last Saturday (28), authorities detected approximately 10,255 metric tonnes of sugar, sources said.

Of that amount the biggest culprit Global Trading Company had 4,800 metric tonnes each found at two warehouses at Wattala Mabole and Handela Kerawalapitiya. The same company is under investigation over the import of contaminated coconut oil.

State Minister Alagiyawanne, who assured a no holds barred investigation into the alleged sugar scam said that detected sugar stocks had been imported after the government reduced duty on imported sugar from Rs 50 a kilo to 25 cents late last year.

Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, MP, told The Island that his committee inquired into the issuance of the relevant gazette 2197/12 on Oct 13, 2020. Lawmaker Yapa said that COPF member Susil Premjayanth recently called for a second report from the Finance Ministry in that regard. Responding to another query, MP Yapa explained how the whole process had been manipulated to the advantage of a few at the expense of those struggling to make ends meet.

In addition to MP Yapa, two other SLPP lawmakers, Vidura Wickramanayake and Nalin Fernnado have expressed serious concern over the sugar scam during COPF proceedings, according to statements issued by the Parliament Communications Department.

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News

Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.