The government has decided to lift import restrictions on turmeric to ease the severe local shortage coupled with adulterated products in the market and increasing attempts to smuggle into the country, a senior Cabinet Minister said.
Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana said that relevant gazette notification lifting the existing import restrictions was issued yesterday in order to allow private importers to bring turmeric consignments from abroad.
Meanwhile, a Ministerial source said that attempts to release the turmeric consignments which were held back by the Customs for the local usage was put on hold following the intervention by the Presidential Secretariat.
Currently, illegally smuggled turmeric is being sold at an exorbitant price range of Rs 3000- 4500 in balck markets depending on the regions across the country. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) also received many complaints of adulterated turmeric mixed with rice flour. (See related story in Sunday Times tomorrow)
A Thai woman walking topless in Arugam Bay town has been arrested by the Police.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal for Sri Lankans overseas to apply for their passports through an online system via the Lankan diplomatic missions.
Ajith Gallage, the owner of a Bird Park in Nagarawawa, Hambantota, has been remanded over allegations of concealing illegally imported motorcycles, in a warehouse owned by him.
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