Prime Minister directs Customs to immediately clear essential food items in port
Posted by Editor on September 24, 2021 - 4:06 pm
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed Sri Lanka Customs to immediately clear all essential food items currently in the port.
The directive was made at the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Cost of Living (CoL), which convened virtually on Friday (24).
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the directive was issued to the Controller General of Imports & Exports and the Director-General of Customs.
It had been decided during the meeting to ensure that the essential food items cleared from the port are distributed to the general public through the Sathosa outlets and through the importers of essential goods, expeditiously.
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka grants government employees leave on Wednesdays amid fuel shortage March 16, 2026
- Sri Lanka Navy seizes 123kg of heroin worth Rs. 3 Billion on trawler March 16, 2026
- Sri Lanka prioritises ambulances in fuel distribution March 16, 2026
- Sri Lanka Police warn of legal action over QR fuel system misuse March 16, 2026
- Sri Lanka moves to protect essential services amid Middle East war fears March 15, 2026
The ‘essential items’ are being held because the Banks have failed to release the required USD’s.
The essential goods such as dhal, sugar, garlic, sprats, canned fish and milk powder were among those that stuck in the port.
Please accept the country is bankrupt and does not have sufficient foreign exchange for foods.
We are now Zimbabwe; no money for imports and print money for Public Sector wages.
If we don’t accept that we are bankrupt, the USD will soon be Rs 350 in the black market.
When a country in the verge of bankrupt to a extent you can’t afford to buy food and fuel the only answer is a lockdown. Nothing to do with covid -19.