Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman yesterday (May 21) alleged in Parliament that all imported salt stocks have been handed over to a leading private salt distributor.
The MP further alleged that a director of the said distributing company is also a director of Puttalam Salt Ltd.
“For the past 06 months, all salt imports were done through the State Trading Corporation (STC). But where did that salt go? No permission was given for private sector imports either. So if the salt the government brought in didn’t enter the local market, where did it end up?” he questioned.
He went on to allege that the salt brought in at Rs.24 per kg could be sold to the public at around Rs.100/kg after including all additional costs.
“But now salt is being sold at Rs.350 – 400 per kg in the market. The salt imported by the government has been given to one private company, which is crushed and sold at higher prices. There is a director at Puttalam Salt Ltd who is also the chairman of a private company. He is the one behind this salt stock takeover.”
Rahuman further said that this mirrors the issues in the rice market, where the government is seen to be supporting businesses rather than the public:
“In addition to the rice mafia, now we have a salt mafia. And the government is also backing the companies.”
