Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2019-02-12

Suspension of the importation of spices through different methods for solving the issues affecting the local spices and the related manufacturing industry

- With a view to solving the issues affecting the local spices and the related manufacturing industry due to re‑exportation of imported Pepper and Arecanuts to India and imported Nutmeg/Mace and Tamarind to Pakistan and illicit exportation of Sri Lankan Cinnamon, the proposal made by Hon. Malik Samarawickrama, Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade, to suspend the importation for export processing and importation of Pepper, Arecanuts, Nutmeg/Mace, Tamarind and Cinnamon to Sri Lanka tentatively, through the Entreport Trade and Commercial Hub Operations and to establish a mechanism needed for the prevention of the above imported spices being re‑shipped from Sri Lanka to India and Pakistan as Sri Lankan products and to prevent exportation of such spices and recording them as products from Sri Lanka, was approved by the Cabinet.