In the wake of a severe salt shortage and soaring prices in Sri Lanka, opposition MP Mujibur Rahuman (SJB) has accused a government-appointed director of a state-owned salt company of importing bulk salt and reselling it at inflated prices through his private firm.
Speaking in Parliament on May 21, Rahuman revealed that Dr. Ravi Liyanage, newly appointed to the board of directors of the Puttalam Salt Company by the current government, is also the Chairman of Raigam, a private company known for selling iodised salt.
According to Rahuman, bulk rock salt imported by the State Trading (General) Corporation—a government-owned enterprise—was sold to Raigam, which then processed and sold the salt at retail prices exceeding Rs. 300 per kilo, despite importing costs being just Rs. 24 per kilo.
“Only rock salt was authorized for import. The import price is Rs. 24. The government imposes a Rs. 40 tax per kilo. Even with added value, it should be sold at around Rs. 100 retail. But now companies are selling salt at over Rs. 300,” Rahuman said.
The MP criticised the conflict of interest, alleging that a state director was using his position to funnel public salt stocks into his private company.
