Colombo, October 22 (Daily Mirror) - The National Movement for Consumer Rights Protection (NMCRP) has alleged that certain Finance Ministry officials are attempting to remove restrictions on palm oil imports by misleading the President and the Cabinet.
NMCRP President Ranjith Withanage urged the President to intervene and prevent the move, stressing the need to protect consumer health and ensure food safety.
Withanage said restrictions on palm oil imports were imposed in 2021 following a decision by an expert panel to safeguard public health and food safety.
He said the government elected two years ago had continued to maintain the existing policy. However, he alleged that certain Finance Ministry officials were now seeking to reverse the policy through a budget proposal that would allow palm oil imports to resume.
“In 2021, a decision was taken by an expert panel to protect the health of consumers in this country and ensure food safety, and certain restrictions were imposed on palm oil imports. The government that was elected two years ago continued to follow those policies. However, a group of corrupt officials in the Ministry of Finance are now preparing to remove the restrictions on palm oil imports into Sri Lanka by putting forward a budget proposal and allowing palm oil to be imported again,” he said.