A consignment of canned fish, found to contain the toxic heavy metal arsenic, has been uncovered at the Customs storage complex in Orugodawatte.
According to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information, the consignment is valued at approximately USD 215,000.
The consignment was inspected last 11 by Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministries of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, and Irrigation.
In his statement, Chandrakeerthi confirmed that the stock of toxic canned fish will not be destroyed within Sri Lanka.
Instead, plans are underway to re-export the contaminated shipment to prevent it from entering the local market.
Sri Lanka Customs has initiated further investigations and inspections into the matter to ensure that no harmful products are distributed.