Business
Local milk production drastically falling due to lack of imported cattle feed
Lack of veterinary medicine for cows, spare parts for chilling centres aggravate situation
by Sanath Nanayakkare
The All Island Dairy Association (AIDA) yesterday urged the government to take immediate action to prioritise the importation of quality cattle feed in the backdrop of dwindling milk production in the country.
They point out that proper micro-nutrients and vitamins from quality imported feed is an essential part in their industry as livestock constitutes a key element in the supply chain.
They say that it is imperative that feed such as maize silage is readily available as it would greatly assist in sustaining the industry because feeding cattle with maize silage as a major diet and protein source has a positive impact on the milk yield, milk composition, body weight change and quality of cow milk by-products.
AIDA says that the restrictions placed on imports due to the foreign currency crisis is crippling their industry due to these reasons.
Binesh Pananwala, President of AIDA said,” As an industry with endless potential to help the economy, the dairy industry is one of the most important industries in the country. However, rising costs, scarcity of feed, vitamins, fuel and fertiliser requirements of different fodder crops and the difficulty in importation of maize have greatly put the industry’s survival at risk.”
“Lack of quality animal feed has largely disrupted the dairy industry’s supply chain. If the livestock does not receive essential micronutrients and vitamins from maize silage, the physical wellbeing of cows get affected, which thereby affects milk production. Veterinary professionals have also continuously expressed their concern about the shortage of medicines such as antibiotics and anaesthetics required for operations,” he said.
A.C.H Munaweera, Consultant and General Manager of AIDA said, “The impact of the foreign exchange crisis is felt in multiple aspects of our industry. The industry is already struggling to sustain itself and we are unable to meet the demand for fresh milk and powdered milk. Milk production has reduced by a great deal already and if not rectified, it will spell disaster for the industry in the near future,” he said.
“The government of Sri Lanka has provided permits for the importation of maize on a case-by-case basis. But fodder importers and dairy companies have been struggling to import these inputs due to lack of foreign exchange and banks find it difficult to honour Letters of Credit (LCs) for importers to send in the raw materials we need,” they said.
Nishantha Jayasooriya, immediate past president of AIDA said, “The entire industry has felt the tremendous impact of the crisis. The livestock farmers, producers, input suppliers and distributors have all been affected by rising costs and lack of resources. If conscious decisions and changes to fiscal and monitory policy are not made, the industry will suffer even further as it will be unable to meet the demand for both fresh milk and milk powder.”
Gamini Rajapaksha, Treasurer of AIDA said, “Processing and value additions are integral and vital parts of the dairy industry. Dearth of foreign exchange and consequential scarcity of fuel, electricity etc. have adversely affected the processors. Some of the leading dairies are unable to operate their plants due to lack of power, which forces them to refuse supplies of milk from the farmers. This has directly affected the livelihood of rural dairy farmer. Chilling tanks at milk collection centres cannot be operated, causing large volumes of milk to be discarded. Another aspect is the importation of equipment and spare parts for the dairy processing plants. Many dairy plants will be compelled to stop production altogether unless they are able to import spare parts within the next few weeks. If urgent steps are not taken to remedy the situation, the entire dairy industry will come to a halt.”
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources to seek the services of the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau as a consultant for the renovation of the Karainagar boat yard project and allocate 40 million rupees from the Treasury for the expenditure to be borne by the Government of Sri Lanka.
[A memorandum of understanding was signed by the President during his official visit to India in December 2024. , to obtain a grant from the Government of India for the renovation of the Karainagar Boat Yard
According to the MOU, the responsibility of providing the technical consultancy service for the project and exempting the goods and equipment related to the grant from taxes has been assigned to the government of Sri Lanka.]
In a landmark move for Sri Lanka’s logistics landscape, EFL Project Logistics has completed a critical phase of deliveries for the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), a transformative infrastructure project poised to reshape the country’s role in global maritime trade.
CWIT—a collaboration between Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (51%), John Keells Holdings and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority—is set to be the island’s first fully automated deep-water terminal. As it gears up for full commercial operations in 2025, the recent arrival of high-tech port handling equipment marks a key economic inflection point for Sri Lanka.
Speaking exclusively to The Island Financial Review on the impact, Mohamed Niyas, General Manager – Project Logistics at EFL, said, “The logistics we executed for CWIT are more than just cargo movements; they are catalysts for economic transformation. These deliveries—ranging from electric inter-terminal trucks to automated gantry cranes—are essential to positioning Sri Lanka as a sustainable, high-capacity transshipment hub.”
Among the highlights of the operation were 62 state-of-the-art Sany electric trucks and massive quay and gantry cranes, representing not only a technical leap but also a green one. These advancements contribute to CWIT’s eco-efficient design and bolster Colombo’s capacity to handle up to 15 million TEUs by 2026.
Economically, the development of CWIT—and EFL’s role in its expedited setup—signals a push for increased foreign direct investment, enhanced export competitiveness and job creation across the logistics and engineering sectors. As Niyas emphasized, “We are not just helping move cargo; we are enabling national economic value. Every successful delivery brings us closer to a future where Sri Lanka is a leading player in the South Asian maritime corridor.”
With global shipping routes evolving and automation driving next-gen port operations, CWIT is seen as a strategic asset for long-term growth. EFL’s role in the project showcases the kind of logistics innovation necessary to support this ambition—efficient, sustainable and globally competitive.
By Ifham Nizam
Sri Lanka marked a major milestone in its tourism development efforts with the official launch of the Marine Tourism Roadmap on April 10 in Colombo. This initiative, led by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under its technical assistance program TA9881 SRI: Supporting Tourism Resilience, lays the groundwork for a new chapter in tourism and the nation’s blue economy.
The Marine Tourism Roadmap was developed through an extensive process of data collection, stakeholder consultations and site visits conducted by the ADB appointed international consultant together with officials of the SLTDA. The final validation of the Roadmap was done by the Marine Tourism Steering Committee, which included representatives from key marine related public and private sector institutions. International expertise was provided by Ms. Aleksandra Dragozet (CEO & Founder – Sea Going Green), ADB’s appointed marine tourism consultant, whose guidance ensured the strategy aligned with global best practices for sustainable tourism. The SLTDA officials, Dr. Prasad Jayasuriya, Director-Tourism Planning, Development & Investments and S Dadeepan, Assistant Director-Tourism Planning & Development coordinated all meetings, site visits and activities with relevant stakeholders and the Steering Committee.
The Marine Tourism Roadmap emphasizes a balanced approach between conservation and economic development, promoting eco-friendly activities such as diving, snorkeling, ship wreck diving and marine wildlife watching. These activities are designed to support local livelihoods while safeguarding Sri Lanka’s rich marine biodiversity, particularly coral reefs, marine mammals, and fragile coastal habitats that face increasing environmental pressure. The strategy outlines two categories of coastal destinations: areas covering Kalpitiya through Galle to Trincomalee, which possess established marine tourism industries; and areas covering Mannar, Jaffna and the North-Eastern coastal belt, which are recognized for their emerging tourism potential. Notably, Sri Lanka’s ocean territory is nearly seven times larger than its landmass, highlighting the vast, untapped opportunities for marine-based tourism. The roadmap presents both short-term and long-term implementation strategies, aiming to develop sustainable marine tourism infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, and ensure the protection and resilience of marine ecosystems in the years ahead.
The Roadmap itself was the result of collaboration among stakeholders covering coastal areas of Negombo, Kalpitiya, Mannar, Jaffna, Mullativu, Trincomalee and Galle and also the Steering committee members representing 18 key marine related public and private sector institutions including Presidential Secretariat, Ministry of Tourism and the SLTDA. This unified approach ensured that the document reflects the diverse perspectives of stakeholders directly involved in marine and coastal tourism development.
-
Business4 days agoDIMO pioneers major fleet expansion with Tata SIGNA Prime Movers for ILM
-
News3 days agoFamily discovers rare species thought to be extinct for over a century in home garden
-
Features6 days agoNipping the two leaves and the bud
-
Features6 days agoAvurudu celebrations … galore
-
Features5 days agoProf. Lal Tennekoon: An illustrious but utterly unpretentious and much -loved academic
-
Foreign News3 days agoChina races robots against humans in Beijing half marathon
-
News6 days agoCounsel for Pilleyan alleges govt. bid to force confession
-
Editorial4 days agoSelective use of PTA