'No such thing as a Sugar Scam' - Keheliya Rambukwella

Colombo (News 1st); The Government maintains a position that the recently reported loss in tax revenue to the state from sugar imports has not resulted in a scam.

Over the past 04 months 300 million kilograms of sugar were imported to Sri Lanka and the Rs. 15 billion figure is formed when it is multiplied by Rs. 50/-, said Joint Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister (Dr.) Ramesh Pathirana. It was a government policy decision to reduce the import tax on sugar, therefore this cannot be viewed as a scam, he added. "It is a joke to claim that a scam had taken place when importing sugar to the country," said Cabinet Spokesperson & Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella. He said a politically motivated campaign is attempting to establish an opinion to claim a scam had taken place. The consumer enjoyed a benefit to a certain extent, he added.