Officials in Sri Lanka have launched a drive to raid sugar stocks and seize them amid shortage of the commodity and after the emergency declared due to soaring food prices.
The government has appointed a retired military officer, Major General Senarath Niwunhella to conduct the raids who said that the government has so far seized 13,000 tonnes of white and brown sugar during the operations.
“We have not confiscated the sugar from anyone. The government will pay the price to the importer as per the valuation done by the customs department,” he said.
The government has imposed an emergency as there is a shortage of food items including sugar, he said.
According to experts, the failure of the government to maintain foreign exchange to import food items has led to the food crisis.
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