By Indika Sri Aravinda in Daily Mirror, Dec 12, 2023
Colombo, Dec. 11 – Following the involvement of former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, the government is likely to lift the ban on the cultivation of palm oil imposed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa when he was in power in 2021.
Mr. Rajapaksa ordered the ban on the importation of Palm Oil into Sri Lanka and the cultivation of them locally in 2021.
Mr. Karunanayake remarked to the media that permission would be granted to cultivate palm oil. He said this after a meeting with the association of palm oil growers, who pointed out that the livelihood of many people had been affected as a result of the ban imposed during the time of the last government. They said palm oil cultivation could generate more foreign exchange revenue than the entire income from tea and rubber.
According to them, an acre of palm oil cultivation can generate Rs.75,000 a month.
Mr. Karunanayake said the government would consult experts in the field and permit palm oil cultivation in the country once again. He promised growers that he would talk to President Ranil Wickremesinghe and make sure that the ban is lifted in January.
https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Govt-to-lift-ban-on-Palm-Oil-cultivation-imposed-by-Gota/108-273065
