• SLPP blames improper taxation for price hike 

The arrival of the imported salt shipment may be delayed by a few more days due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions, the State-run National Salt Company said. 

A shipment of salt imported from India was scheduled to arrive on Wednesday night (21). The shipment consists of a total of 3,050 metric tonnes (MT) of salt, 250 MT imported by the private sector and 2,800 MT imported by the National Salt Company.

However, the company stated that the shipment may be delayed for a few days. It also assured that stocks of salt will continue to be imported to the country in the coming days.

The company further stated that these efforts will help alleviate the ongoing salt shortage in the market.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) of the Opposition alleged that the Government’s improper tax policies have contributed to the salt price hike in a context where a salt shortage has arisen in the country. Former SLPP Parliamentarian Sanjeewa Edirimanna further told the media yesterday (22) that when a disruption to the production of salt occurred, the Government should have taken steps to prevent a widespread shortage, and that it was the Government’s responsibility. He added that while the prevailing salt shortage may have occurred due to environmental factors as claimed by the Government, the ‘crisis’ surrounding salt is caused by the Government’s incompetence. “The Government should have managed the production gap before it became a crisis,” he said, adding that the existing salt stocks should have been used to prevent a shortage. The fact that the Government failed to do that, he opined, shows a lack of responsibility and incompetence on the part of the Government. “Why did salt prices go up to this extent? The reason is the Government’s fraudulent tax policy,” he alleged, claiming that the Government has gone against its policy to not impose taxes on essential goods, and that it has contributed to a salt price hike amidst the shortage.