More details on sugar scam come to light

COLOMBO (News1st):  More revelations of the sugar scam, that cost the country more than 15 billion rupees, has come to light. The Central Bank's External Sector Report for the month of January 2021, reveals more details of sugar imports, that had been brought into Sri Lanka. According to the central bank, imports of sugar and confectionery items had increased by 187 percent, compared to January 2020. Expenditure on Sugar and confectionery imports, which generally average to around 20 million USD, had increased to an exorbitant 57.5 Million USD in January 2021. This unusual increase is reported against backdrop where the government of Sri Lanka has imposed restrictions curtailing non - essential imports to the country. A report submitted to the Committee on Public Accounts, by the Ministry of Finance, recently revealed that the sugar scam, had cost the government a staggering revenue loss of 15.9 billion rupees.