Food stuck in Colombo Port to be released immediately

By Ifham Nizam

Steps would be taken to release all cargo containers carrying food currently stuck in port warehouses. The decision was announced when Sri Lanka Freedom Party members met Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday.

“During the discussion the Finance Minister informed us that as there were a large number of food containers in our port at present, steps would be taken to release those stocks to the market immediately,” Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said responding to journalists.

He said government was taking steps to address the shortage of certain food items due to the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic in the country.

“The government will never allow a food shortage in the country. Due to rising prices in the world market, some traders have restricted their wholesale market share. The situation created by price increases in the world market is beyond our control. This is the case with some essential commodities such sugar, gas and milk powder,” he said.

Minister Amaraweera said the prices of sugar and milk powder in the world market had gone up, but the government had taken steps to provide relief to the public by waiving the import levy on milk powder imports.

“Accordingly, the large tax imposed on milk powder was reduced. However, the companies that import milk powder say that they are still incurring losses”, the minister said.

The Finance Minister also informed the SLFP MPs that steps would be taken to provide the required foreign exchange through the Treasury.

“So, we are confident that by next week, the shortage of certain food items as well as gas will be over. It was emphasised during the discussion that ships carrying gas were on the way. As a government, we will take steps to provide the people with what they need without any shortage despite the problematic situation,” Amaraweera added.