Essential goods list to be cleared from Port goes to Cabinet today

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday said he will submit the list of essential goods to the Cabinet of Ministers meeting today, to ensure availability ahead of the New Year.

“I will submit the list of essential items to the Cabinet today and the Central Bank will release the necessary funds to clear those from the Colombo Port,” he told journalists yesterday.

The Essential Food Importers Association last week told the Daily FT that over 1,000 containers worth $ 25 million were stuck at the Colombo Port as banks refused to release foreign exchange to clear the goods. 

As per industry stakeholders, around 4,000 containers with essential food items, such as rice, dhal, sugar, onions, potatoes, milk powder and legumes are imported monthly.

Early this month, Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa said the economy was facing great difficulties due to the foreign exchange crisis and that drastic measures would have to be taken.

Given the current situation of the country’s foreign reserves, the Minister said the Government would have to curtail imports of milk powder and vehicles, and State sector recruitments.