Part of the sugar export quota destined for Maldives reached Sri Lanka

26-Oct-2024 12:15 PM

New Delhi. It is being reported that under the bilateral agreement, the Government of India had allocated a quota of 64,494.33 tonnes of sugar export to Maldives, but it was misused by some Indian exporters and a part of the sugar of this quota was sent to countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia instead of sending it to Maldives.

Although there is a ban on commercial export of sugar since June 2023, but at the government level, its limited quantity of quota is issued for certain countries.

According to the information received, sugar loaded in about 80 containers from the quota destined for Maldives has reached Colombo port in Sri Lanka.

A bill of lading was prepared for this on 30 September 2024, which shows that there was an export shipment of 270 tonnes of sugar from Nhava Sheva port and its final destination was Colombo port.

It was claimed in the bill that this cargo (ship) was going to Male, the capital of Maldives and its responsibility was of the sender.

An interesting thing was mentioned in this bill that after unloading the consignment of sugar at Male port, the empty containers will have to be handed over to the 'Carrier Nominated Depot' at Colombo port by the sender.

Critics say that is Male port so small that it was considered necessary to send the containers back to Colombo from there? The reality is that this ship did not reach Male and the sugar loaded on it was sold to Sri Lankan traders.

Earlier in March, a shipment of 270 tonnes of sugar was made from Nhava Sheva port itself, which reached Klang port of Malaysia, whereas it was supposed to go to Male port. It is worth noting that the Indian government had not issued any export quota of sugar for Malaysia.