The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri
Chaminda Wijesiri alleged that low-cost imported salt, like earlier white-onion stocks handled through Sathosa, was being channelled through private companies and resold to the public at much higher prices. He questioned why consumers were paying Rs. 350–400 when costs were far lower, and warned the Government not to repeat practices it had previously accused traders and past regimes of using. He also urged honest members in government to prevent such alleged profiteering and misconduct.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Even with tax, Rs. 130. Yet the public is paying Rs. 350–400. Why? Consider the white-onion scam: Sathosa issued at Rs. 170 per kilo but market prices were Rs. 350–400. Files were made asking why Sathosa couldn’t sell at Rs. 350. You accused traders and black-marketeers of profiting. Today you do the same with salt—bringing at low cost, giving to private companies, they repack and sell at Rs. 350–400, while under-the-table deals funnel money.
¶ 02 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]
¶ 03 If you go down that path, you are no different from past regimes. Don’t think jailing someone every week will fool people. Many of you are honest and came to fix the country; don’t fall into this pattern.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 22 May 2025 ·No. 1750307293077610 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: The Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 22 May 2025. No. 1750307293077610. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/24596