The Hon. Sunil Handunnetti - Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development

¶ 01 Yes, 12,450 MT were brought in. As to the Puttalam Salt Limited history: on 05.02.1997, 90 percent of Puttalam Salt Limited’s rights were leased for 30 years to a consortium comprising Gampaha District Rural Bank Association, North Western Province Rural Bank Association, Kalutara District Rural Bank Association, People’s Bank, Pan Serendib Institute, North Central Province Rural Bank Association, Sri Lanka Consumer Co-operative Society, and the Sri Lanka Co-operative Management Institute. The original state corporation ceased and control moved to these eight institutions. Thereafter, through purchases of shares held by the Kalutara District Rural Bank Association and People’s Bank, Raigam Group acquired a controlling interest and set up Raigam Wayamba Salterns PLC, building a factory adjacent to Puttalam Salt Limited—raising legal and conflict-of-interest issues because directors overlapped. That process will conclude in about two years; administrations since 1997 enabled this structure, and the resultant market power must be addressed.