29 November 2011 04:52 pm Views - 8190
He said the order was placed to import a stock of coconuts from India since there was a shortage in the local market last year. However, he said there was no such shortage in the market by the time the stock reached the country, and therefore, it was destroyed.
The Minister revealed this in the House in response to a question by the UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara in this regard.
Mr. Jayasekara hit back at the Minister asking who took the decision to import coconuts to be destroyed eventually.
Mr. Fernando replied, “We import various items whenever there is a shortage in the local market. We do it to control prices. There was a coconut shortage. Therefore, we took this decision. By the time, the stock reached the country, no such shortage existed. Therefore, we destroyed the stock. Had we released the stock to the market, it would have affected the local suppliers. Then, the UNP will make a different allegation.”
Mr. Jayasekara confronted Mr. Fernando at this moment saying that it was a hilarious act.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who listened to the cross talks said the imported coconuts should have been distributed among Samurdhi families instead of destroying them. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)