• Says it is only a temporary measure

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Claiming that restricting the imports of 367 non-essential items without a valid licence was not a total ban, State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said yesterday it was only a temporary measure. 

He told Parliament that the decision to restrict certain imports without a valid licence was taken to control the inflation and restrict the outflow of dollars when there was a floating exchange rate.

He said import restrictions were not made to benefit certain groups affiliated with the government, as claimed by the opposition.

SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who seconded the adjournment debate moved by Nalin Bandara said import restrictions on 367 goods without a valid licence was made to benefit some groups aligned to the government and said that the import should be opened to all.       

• Decision to restrict certain imports without a valid licence was taken  to control the inflation and restrict the outflow of dollars when there  was a floating exchange rate