Export of Arecanut under strict check following suspected racket

Export of Arecanut from Sri Lanka to India is to be placed under close scrutiny following suspicion that areacanut brought into the country was being mixed with local production and re-exported.

This is in the wake of a prohibition on  import of arecaunt under the TIEP scheme or the Temporary Importing for Export Processing scheme.

The suspicion had risen about the possible adulteration as the export figures showed a sudden increase this year compared to the corresponding period of last year.

In April last year 988 mt was exported while this year it was 1848 Mt.  The other export figures until September too shows an unusual increase. The figures as follows . This year’s figures mentioned with brackets :  May 754 Mt (2487Mt), June 562 Mt (1696 Mt), July 967 Mt (1495 Mt), August 1565 (2430 Mt) and September 1119 (2218 Mt).

Meanwhile cabinet approval has been sought to obtain the services of Mr Dayaratna Silva as the Director  General of the Commerce Department for one year. Until his appointment , permission has been sought for the Secretary of Trade Minister S.T. Kodikara  to take up the position on an acting basis.