President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has instructed officials to take immediate steps to release containers containing essential items in customs custody.
The President emphasized that the people should be given the opportunity to purchase essential items including food without any shortage during the upcoming festive season and instructed the officials to make plans for this from now on.
The President also appointed a committee headed by Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities including food.
The decision was taken by the President with the aim of maintaining essential commodities including food in the market without a shortage.
This special discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat this afternoon (07) regarding the release of essential goods in the custom’s custody.
The President emphasized that selected essential goods should be allowed to be imported and that goods should not be allowed to be imported in excess and stocks should not be allowed to be hidden.
The President instructed a new mechanism to expedite the issuance of essential commodities to the market, including food, and directed the new committee to regulate and oversee the matter.
Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Bandula Gunawardena, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Minister of State Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance SR Attygalle and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Customs were also present.
