Minister confirms leak of info about duty hike to sugar importers

Labour and Foreign Employment Minister Manusha Nanayakkara questioned how sugar importers had received information about an impending increase in the import duty on sugar before it was even presented to the Cabinet.

Minister Nanayakkara said that only Sri Lanka Customs officials had been aware of the impending duty revision.

The Minister emphasised the need to conduct an investigation to find out whether anyone had leaked information to sugar importers.

The Minister said so when the media sought his views of the Opposition allegations that move to increase sugar tax had been revealed to sugar importers.

The Opposition has alleged that some of those who had benefited from the sugar tax scam, perpetrated in Oct. 2020 were involved in the current racket, too.

Minister Nanayakkara said: “We raised our voice regarding the sugar fraud back then, and we will continue to do so.