Turmeric smuggling intensified as shortage worsens

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A severe shortage of turmeric, an essential ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine has led to stepped up efforts to smuggle in large consignments from neighbouring India.

Police headquarters spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday (27) said that police commandos had taken into custody a trawler loaded with nearly 20,000 kilos of turmeric at Kalamatiya, Gurupokuna in the Hungama police area. Commandos also arrested four persons during the raid.

DIG Rohana said that the STF and the Hungama police had initiated an inquiry.

The government recently banned the importation of a range of spices, including pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace and cardamom and turmeric.

DIG Rohana said yesterday’s detection made around 3 am, was the single biggest since the issuance of a special gazette banning import of turmeric.

In spite of naval patrols and on and off detections, smugglers continued to bring in large consignments of turmeric in view of the growing demand.  A kilo of turmeric fetches as much Rs 7,000.

DIG Rohana said that the raiding party also took into custody two lorries which were to be used to move part of the turmeric stock.

Since the government imposed a ban on spices as part of wider restrictions on imports to save foreign exchange several weeks ago in the wake of rapid deterioration of the economic situation due to Covid-19 epidemic, the Navy carried out a series of detections. According to the Navy headquarters, patrols had recovered 3538 kilos of dried turmeric.

In spite of continuing shortage resulting in sharp increase in prices, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said his government would not go back on its decision to stop import of turmeric. Addressing a Cabinet sub-committee on Cost of Living recently, the President said even though the public faced difficulties for a short period of time, steps taken to strengthen the rural economy and uplift the farming community couldn’t be reversed. To control Rupee’s parity against other currencies and to get rid of high debt burden on farmers, imports should be restricted, a statement issued by the President’s Office quoted Gotabaya Rajapaksa as having said.