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Cooking oil unfit for consumption released with Customs blessings!

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The PHIs of Ridigama have busted a large-scale smuggling in which expired cooking oil unfit for human consumption has been released to the market.

The 51,600 liters of canola oil stock used for cooking, which was allegedly brought from Germany, has been found at a warehouse in Ridigama and the stock has been released with the help of Customs officers.

The Public Health Inspectors raided the warehouse located at Annoorpura, Panagamuwa in Ridigama based on information received by the Ridigama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) office.

The oil stock was taken into custody along with a businessman named Iliyas Mohammed of No. 130 A, Annoorpura in Panagamuwa.

A total of 5,160 cans of ten-liter each were found in the warehouse.

The arrested businessman said the oil stock was supposed to be used for soap production.

Though the businessman had said that he had purchased three containers containing these oil cans from the port, he had failed to produce any document.

Investigators said that a ten-liter can was priced at Rs.9,999 and they have been labelled in a foreign country.

The oil cans had no expiry date and the businessman had no receipt to indicate that the goods were purchased.
 
Officials who conducted the raid said that an address ‘South Pacific Agency, Upper Bomiriya, Kaduwela’ was mentioned on the oil cans as the importer and distributor.

The Rambadagalla Court has given orders to seal the warehouse and send the samples to the government analyst.

When ‘Aruna’ made an inquiry in this regard, the port sources confirmed that several containers seized by the Customs were tendered and released on January 20.

The tender has been called under the number CDV/TS/2023/01.

The cans of canola oil weighing 47,265 kgs have been released for over Rs.15 million.

On December 19, 2022, the government food inspector has approved the use of this oil stock before February 2023.

The price of a liter of canola oil released from the port was Rs.294.18.

The port officials said if this ten-liter can, which was priced at nine hundred and ninety nine rupees per liter, generated a profit of seven thousand fifty rupees, the businessman may have earned an income of over Rs.36 million.

The officials pointed out that the smugglers had tried to release several rice containers on the same day when these containers were tendered with the help of corrupt officials in anticipation of high profits, but they were prevented by the intervention of the Ports Authority Chairman.

Source – Aruna

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Visit of CII CEOs delegation to Colombo (Pics)

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A CEOs delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), led by Mr. Sanjiv Puri, Immediate Past President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director of ITC Limited, visited Colombo from 29 June to 02 July 2025. 

The visit followed an invitation extended by the President of Sri Lanka during his State Visit to India in December 2024. The delegation comprised over 15 prominent Indian business leaders representing diverse sectors including hospitality, manufacturing, energy, healthcare, textiles, and tourism, among others.

During the visit, the CII delegation also called on the President and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The leadership briefed the Indian business representatives on the constructive measures undertaken by the government to foster a supportive economic climate, promote investment, and ensure fair and transparent business practices.

In addition, the delegation held wide-ranging discussions with several senior Ministers and officials of the Government of Sri Lanka, including the Minister of Energy; Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development; Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Economic Development; Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development; and the Chairman of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka. These discussions explored avenues for investment-led collaboration and sector-specific partnerships.

A key highlight of the visit was a CEOs’ Roundtable organised by the High Commission of India on 30 June at ITC Ratnadipa, in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC). The CCC delegation was led by Mr. Krishan Balendra, Chairman and CEO of John Keells Group. The Roundtable witnessed in-depth deliberations on strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and identifying new opportunities for collaboration. High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Mr. Santosh Jha also participated in the interaction.

To mark the occasion, the High Commissioner hosted a networking reception that brought together prominent business leaders, senior ministers, and political leaders. The event also witnessed the participation of leading trade and industry chambers from across Sri Lanka.

The visit of the CII CEOs delegation successfully identified various areas of mutual interest for forging further economic linkages and trade connections. It also highlighted the commitment of apex Indian chambers of commerce, such as CII, to deepening existing economic ties, promoting investment-led partnerships, and exploring new avenues for collaboration between India and Sri Lanka.

The delegation included : 

  • Dr Nandini Rangaswamy – Chairperson, GRG Educational Institutions & Managing Director, Chandra Group of Companies
  • Dr S Chandrakumar – Founder & Executive Chairman Kauvery Group of Hospitals
  • Mr CK Ranganathan – Chairman & Managing Director CavinKare Pvt Ltd
  • Mr G R Anantapadmanaban – Managing Director GRT Group
  • Mr VKC Razak – Chairman, CII Kerala State Council & Managing Director of VKC Footgear Pvt. Ltd.
  • Mr Dipak Das – Managing Director Lanka IOC PLC
  • Mr Christo George – Convenor CII Kerala Manufacturing MSME & Export Panel, Chairman and Managing Director of Hykon India Limited
  • Mr Sohel Firoz Kazani – Founder and Managing Partner of Interport Impex Private Limited (Bharat Freight Group)
  • Mr Sunin Sunny – CEO of Ecospice Ingredients Pvt Ltd.
  • Mr Ravi Dolli – Member, CII Maharashtra Manufacturing Panel & CEO of Alloy Steels
  • Mr Rahul Nayak – Head of International Business TVS Motor Company
  • Ms Neerja Bhatia – Deputy Director General Confederation of Indian Industry
  • Mr Saikat Roy Chowdhury – Executive Director of International Confederation of Indian Industry
  • Mr Manish Mohan – Senior Director of International Confederation of Indian Industry

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Lanka IOC donates Rs. 100 mn. to the President’s Fund

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The Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) has donated Rs. 100 million to the President’s Fund.

Mr. Dipak Das, Managing Director of Lanka Indian Oil Company, handed over the relevant cheque to Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, at the Presidential Secretariat today (July 04).

It is noteworthy that this donation is in addition to the contributions Lanka Indian Oil Company already makes to the education, health and cultural sectors in the country.

Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and a group of representatives from Lanka Indian Oil Company were also present at the occasion.

Mr. Das was a part of the CEOs delegation of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) who was in Colombo from June 29 – July 02.

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CBSL takes action against Nation Lanka Finance PLC

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has initiated resolution action against Nation Lanka Finance PLC (NLFP), effective from today (July 04) due to continuous violations of the Finance Business Act No. 42 of 2011 and related regulatory directives. 

The company has been facing a deteriorating financial position marked by capital deficiencies, poor asset quality, ongoing losses, and failure to repay depositors.

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