FM to issue import licenses on wheat flour soon: Siyambalapitiya

By Ajith Siriwardana   

Amidst concerns about duopoly in wheat flour imports in Sri Lanka, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said the Finance Ministry is having discussions about issuing licenses for wheat flour imports soon.   

The Minister told the Daily Mirror that the Ministry was studying the wheat flour prices at the world market, rice prices and food security at the moment.   

He said the Ministry is yet to reach a final decision regarding the issuance of import licenses adding that import ban was made as a temporary measure. 

 
Wheat flour importers raised concerns that their request for import licenses to import wheat flour has not been granted as yet, which could lead to wheat flour shortage or price increase in the future.  The two major local wheat flour suppliers were accused of reaping undue profits in billions of rupees following a government-imposed ban on unlicensed wheat flour imports.   
The Committee of Public Finance recently instructed the officials of the Ministry of Finance to announce the selling price of a kilogram of wheat flour as Rs.198 so to avoid two major companies making additional profit and to protect the consumer.