A large volume of brown and white sugar weighing up to 167,000 kg has been recovered from a warehouse in the area of Uyandana, Kurunegala.

The hoarded sugar consignment was seized in a raid led by the officials of Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA).

The raid was carried out based on a tip-off received by the CAA’s Kurunegala branch, Senior Investigating Officer of the bureau, Mr. Asanka Edirisinge said speaking to media.

The warehouse, which was operating without a valid license, has been sealed off by the CAA officials.

Legal action against the relevant establishment is expected to be sought before Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court in the future.

Following Ada Derana exposé on Aug. 28 regarding 4,800 metric tons of sugar hidden in a warehouse in Mabola, which shed light on the truth behind the artificial market shortage of sugar, the CAA officials have managed to recover more than 29,000 metric tons of the product stashed away.

More warehouses in several areas including Seeduwa, Kelaniya and Wattala were raided by the investigating officers earlier this week.

In this backdrop, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared emergency regulations on the provision of essential foods, which came into effect from midnight on Aug. 30.

The regulations apply to the supply, selling at higher prices, and hoarding of essential food including paddy, rice, and sugar. The President declared these regulations under the powers vested in him subject to Article 2 of the Public Security Ordinance.

Subsequently, Major General M. S. P. Nivunhella was appointed as the new Commissioner General of Essential Services. He is tasked with overlooking and coordinating the distribution of consumer goods essential for maintenance daily needs including paddy, rice, and sugar.