Import restrictions see Navy net 8.3 tons of turmeric in less than a month

• 800 kilos of smuggled turmeric detected in Norochcholai, Mannar
• Black-market turmeric fetching between 4,000-5,000 rupees a kilo  
• Spice importers hopeful Govt. will relax import restrictions, say can restore supply in one month    

By Asiri Fernando

Import restrictions placed on turmeric has resulted in an upsurge of smuggling, with the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday saying it has intercepted nearly 8.3 metric tonnes of the spice fraudulently brought from India since late July, and the private sector was hopeful of limits being relaxed in the near future. 

A shortage of turmeric due to export restrictions has pushed black market racketeers to smuggle the spice into Sri Lanka, with the price of a black market kilogram of turmeric reaching between 4,000-5,000 rupees, industry sources said, while the regular price for an importer would be about Rs. 600 for the same amount.   

According to the Navy, a total 8,360 kg of smuggled turmeric has been apprehend by them to date. Two packages of the spice weighing 807 kg were intercepted at sea and along the coast of Mannar and Norochcholai yesterday. 

Naval personnel attached to the North-Western Naval Command had nabbed four suspects who were attempting to smuggle in about 700 kg of dried turmeric via two dinghies a few days ago. The smuggled items had been stuffed in 14 gunny sacks. The suspects were identified as residents of Kalpitiya area and ranged from 25 to 58 years of age. The consignment of turmeric and the suspects have been handed over to the Police

A senior naval officer speaking to Daily FT opined that due to the high price turmeric fetches in Sri Lanka’s black-market, some smugglers who traditionally run “Kerala Ganja” (Cannabis) across the Palk Strait have switched to turmeric. “The Navy is on constant vigilance to prevent any intrusion into Sri Lankan waters,” Navy Spokesman Capt. Indika De Silva said. 

Sri Lanka annually consumes around 80,000 metric tonnes of turmeric and only produces around 4000 metric tonnes locally each year, Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders Association (SAPPTA) member Vernon Abeyratne said. Abeyrathne pointed out the Government listed turmeric as a restricted import to encourage local farmers to develop their crop and get a better price. However, the move resulted in a turmeric shortage, which has lasted several months. 

Abeyrathne said the importers were hopeful that the Government will lift restrictions on turmeric imports in the near future, and said supply could resume within a month or two if restrictions were lifted.  Responding to a question, Abeyrathne warned that some of the turmeric available in the black-market were substandard. 

“There are no quality control measures in place, there are reports that they are mixing various powders with it to increase the quantity,” he said, pointing out that black market products negatively impact importers and the local farmers as well as endanger consumers.