Import restrictions to be lifted

The Government has decided to lift import restrictions on turmeric to ease the severe local shortage that has seen adulterated products in the market as well as increased attempts to smuggle the spice into the country, a senior Cabinet Minister said.

Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana told the Sunday Times that the relevant gazette notification lifting the existing import restriction was issued yesterday to allow private importers to bring turmeric consignments from abroad.