S
ri Lanka plans to tighten regulations on metal scrap exports, making it illegal to export these items without obtaining a license, according to an official statement.
The Finance Ministry announced that new measures will ban the export of metal, iron, related equipment, and scrap without proper licensing.
Moving forward, all metal exports will require recommendations from the Ministry of Industry.
This announcement followed a meeting between metal workers, Ministry of Industry bureaucrats, and Customs officials.
The ban will cover copper, brass, aluminum, cast iron, white iron, and high-carbon steels.
The statement did not specify which group would benefit from these new export controls, nor did it address the potential disadvantages to other citizens.
Currently, metal scrap is collected by individuals using small trucks and push carts and sold to larger collectors for immediate cash payment.
It remains unclear how the export ban will impact the market price of scrap metal, potentially discouraging its collection and affecting the income of collectors who have limited political influence.
Notably, aluminum and metal cans in the environment can serve as breeding grounds for dengue mosquitoes.
