The Ministry of Trade will launch a separate inquiry into the controversial "garlic fraud" at Lak Sathosal, its secretary Bhadrani Jayawardena said today (30).

Jayawardena said that preliminary investigation reports by Lak Sathosa into the incident are currently being studied.

Accordingly, the Ministry will begin its investigation within the next few days, she added.

In addition, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has already launched an investigation into the alleged fraud, subsequent to a complaint lodged by Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The "Galic Fraud' made headlines over the past few days in the wake of the revelations made by Thushan Gunawardena, former Executive Director at the Consumer Affairs Authority who resigned from his position citing "rampant corruption" at Sathosa.