Participating in the debate on the Second Reading of the Amendment Draft Bill of the Consumer Affairs Authority in parliament Sept;(22), Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardana said the Sathosa Loss during the previous Government is Rs.20 billion and the outstanding balance for the suppliers itself was Eight billion.

He said that he shouldered Sathosa though it was hit with a loss of Rs.28 billion. He challenged that he was ready to bid farewell to his political career if it is proved that he or anyone of his staff solicited a bribe or made any influence over the controversial garlic deal of Sathosa.

He said complaints have been made with the IGP and the CID against the selling of 54,860 kilograms of garlic by Sathosa to a private wholesale dealer without following any accepted tender procedures, and its investigations are currently in place.

The Minister further reiterated that he has not made influence whatsoever to the chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority who resigned from the position recently following the Garlic deal fiasco.