The ministry is not issuing the certificate at the instigation of racketeers who re-export arecanut that is being imported from Indonesia.

When contacted, senior assistant secretary to the industries ministry K.A.L. Amaratunga said the ministry has done its duty and any further details should be obtained from the Department of Commerce.

Reached over the phone, director general of the Department Sonali Wijeratne disconnected the line, saying she was at a meeting.

Attempts to speak to minister Risath Badurdeen were unsuccessful.