The Hon. Mujibur Rahman

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, among today’s items are Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act. The Government has been in office over 100 days. Two urgent economic issues remain unresolved.

¶ 02 First, a severe congestion at Sri Lanka Customs: about 3,000 containers are stuck. Tensions have arisen between the Government and Customs officials, but the people are bearing the brunt. Prices keep rising while incomes have not; every day’s delay adds demurrage and other costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers. Normally a container should be released in two to three days; now it takes seven to ten days. Demurrage per day is over Rs. 25,000 for a 20-foot container and over Rs. 50,000 for a 40-foot container. Many containers have been stuck for over a week. Importers will recover these costs from the public, on items like medicines, food, school supplies, and phone accessories. The Government must resolve this immediately.

¶ 03 I also heard that in the past week, about 30 cargo vessels came and turned back. Each ship can incur losses of around USD 100,000 per day. That is USD 3 million lost, or about Rs. 900 million in foregone revenue. Who is responsible?

¶ 04 Yesterday, it was announced that 323 containers were released. The Deputy Minister said an investigation is underway. Investigate, yes — but also suspend those who authorized releases outside procedure. The Customs Officers’ Union says about 80 percent of those 323 were “red line” containers that must be checked. Customs officers say they were released on orders from above. Who gave the order — the President, the Deputy Minister, or the Director-General of Customs? Name them. Do not just say “we will investigate” after the containers are gone. If the DG is involved, suspend him and then investigate. You promised transparency; show it now.

¶ 05 Second, rice prices are soaring. Nadu is Rs. 260 per kg in Colombo; some varieties like “Red Samba” sell at Rs. 320. The President himself acknowledged these prices on TV. He has met millers five times. A Consumer Authority representative was assigned to monitor release stocks; now the President says the Army will be deployed next. What has the Authority’s representative done?

¶ 06 Harvesting has started in parts of the North and East, but you have still not gazetted a guaranteed price for paddy. In the East, a 65 kg bag of red kekulu sells around Rs. 9,700; white kekulu around Rs. 7,000. Without a guaranteed price, how will you stabilize the market? Will you again blame millers later? Why this delay? Is it to allow certain cartels to buy cheap? Remember, 2022’s crisis was deepened by rice; this is a staple for most households. If you delay, when the next harvest arrives, rice will not be Rs. 220 but Rs. 300 per kg.

¶ 07 On imports: the President said the Rs. 65 per kg levy on imported rice was not imposed by you but by Ranil Wickremesinghe. If so, remove it now. Historically, even pro-capital governments never imposed more than Rs. 1–2 per kg on rice. You claim to represent the poor, yet maintain a Rs. 65 levy on rice — where is the fairness?

¶ 08 Coconuts are Rs. 220 each; a single meal of rice and pol sambol for a family of four now costs about Rs. 1,000. If coconut containers are also stuck, coconuts will hit Rs. 500. Clear the containers urgently with Customs and port officials.

¶ 09 Finally, there is confusion: the Deputy Minister of Finance says no decision was taken to cancel Government servants’ vehicle permits, but the President announced all permits will be cancelled. Please resolve these contradictions and address these two national issues urgently.