Govt salt imports diverted to private firm, resold at higher price – Mujibur

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman has accused Lanka Salt Limited of selling imported salt at a heavily discounted rate to a private company, which is allegedly reselling the product at an inflated price of Rs. 350 per kilo in the domestic market.

Raising the issue in parliament today (21), Rahman claimed that Lanka Salt had imported salt from India at a low price.

He alleged that the imported coarse salt was then sold at a concessionary price to a private entity headed by an individual who also sits on the Board of Directors of Lanka Salt.

According to the MP, this dual role raises serious concerns over a conflict of interest and potential abuse of public resources for private gain.

“The salt costs around Rs. 24 per kilo. Even after adding the Rs. 40 import tax and other incidental costs, this product could have been made available to the public at a far more affordable rate,” Rahman said.

He further alleged that the government, which once promised to dismantle monopolies such as the so-called “rice mafia,” has instead enabled the creation of a new “salt mafia.”