Business
Exploring the goodness of Sri Lankan natural sea salt and lagoon salt
By Dr Ajith Shanmuganathan
Salt has played a significant role throughout human history, enhancing the flavour of countless dishes. In recent times, natural sea salt and lagoon salt have gained popularity due to their unique characteristics and potential health benefits. This article aims to explore the goodness of these natural salts, highlighting their origins, extraction methods, mineral composition, and advantages for human consumption. By understanding the qualities and properties of sea salt and lagoon salt, individuals can make informed decisions about incorporating these natural salts into their diets.
The history of salt in Sri Lanka dates back thousands of years, with salt playing a significant role in the country’s culture, economy, and culinary traditions. The island’s geographical location, surrounded by the Indian Ocean, provided ample salt production and trade opportunities. Early records indicate that salt production in Sri Lanka can be traced back to ancient times.
The ancient chronicle, the Mahavamsa, mentions salt pans’ existence during King Pandukabhaya’s reign (4th century BCE). These salt pans, known as “Ussangoda,” were located in the Hambantota district and were a vital source of salt for the local population. Salt production expanded significantly during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods (3rd century BCE – 13th century CE). Salt was primarily produced in shallow brine pools, where seawater was allowed to evaporate, leaving behind salt crystals. These pools, known as “Lunama,” were constructed along the coastline and in the interior regions near saltwater lagoons. The salt produced was primarily used for domestic consumption, preservation of food, and trade. Salt played a crucial role in the Sri Lankan economy during the medieval period. It was a valuable commodity subject to taxation and regulation by the ruling kings. In the 16th century, with the arrival of European colonial powers, the salt industry in Sri Lanka underwent significant changes. The Portuguese, Dutch, and British introduced new techniques and technologies in salt production. They constructed salt pans and introduced more efficient evaporation methods. The British, in particular, played a pivotal role in modernizing salt production and expanding its scale. They established large-scale saltworks in coastal areas, including Kalpitiya, Puttalam, and Hambantota, to cater to the growing demand. In the modern era, the salt industry in Sri Lanka has evolved further.
Today, salt production is primarily carried out through solar evaporation methods. Seawater is channelled into shallow pans or reservoirs and allowed to evaporate naturally under the sun’s heat. The remaining salt crystals are collected, washed, and processed for distribution. Salt production in Sri Lanka is concentrated in coastal areas and saltwater lagoons, including Hambantota, Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Mannar, and Trincomalee. These regions benefit from their proximity to the sea, allowing for salt extraction through solar evaporation methods.
Originating from the evaporation of seawater, natural sea salt is produced by collecting seawater in shallow pools and allowing it to evaporate under controlled conditions. This process ensures the retention of essential minerals and trace elements. Sea salt boasts many minerals, including magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc, and iodine. These minerals are vital in maintaining electrolyte balance, supporting nerve function, and contributing to overall health and well-being. Consuming natural sea salt in moderation may offer potential health benefits, such as improved hydration, digestion, immune function, blood pressure regulation, respiratory health, and skin conditions. Lagoon salt, also known as salt flats or pans, is harvested from inland saltwater lagoons. These lagoons form when seawater enters shallow depressions and evaporates, leaving salt deposits behind. Lagoon salt is manually or mechanically collected from these salt flats. It is characterized by its high mineral content, including potassium, magnesium, and calcium. The specific mineral composition may vary depending on the geographical location and local conditions. Like sea salt, lagoon salt offers potential health benefits, such as supporting electrolyte balance, aiding muscle function, contributing to bone health, regulating blood sugar levels, and keeping a healthy cardiovascular system.
Natural sea salt and lagoon salt possess distinct characteristics. Sea salt is renowned for its briny flavour and coarse texture, making it ideal for finishing dishes. In contrast, lagoon salt often exhibits a milder taste and finer texture, which lends itself well to seasoning during cooking. Both salts serve as flavour enhancers in cooking and baking, offering versatility in various culinary applications. When selecting natural salts, it is crucial to prioritize sustainability and purity. Choosing salts harvested responsibly and free from additives or contaminants ensures the highest quality product. Incorporating natural sea salt into your culinary endeavours enhances your dishes’ flavours and offers potential health benefits through its rich mineral content. Embrace the goodness of these natural salts and savour the depth of flavour they bring to your meals.
(The writer is a Chartered Engineer and Consultant in business administration & Engineering and a Volunteer of IMechE and IET)
Sri Lanka’s economic growth for 2026 will be around 4-5 percent, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe said.
The Governor indicated the estimated economic growth while announcing the Central Bank’s policy agenda for this year, last Thursday.
‘The Central Bank’s 2026 growth estimation is higher than the growth prediction of the IMF and the World Bank and is achievable, the Governor told the media while announcing the Central Bank’s policy agenda for 2026.
Dr. Weerasinghe added: ‘The Central Bank will introduce a benchmark intra-day reference exchange rate this year to ensure transparency in the foreign exchange market.
‘The absence of a reference exchange rate has held back the expansion of the Sri Lankan forex market and discouraged the trading of rupee-denominated derivatives Governor said.
‘The Central Bank last year carried out the necessary preliminary work to implement the benchmark spot exchange rate.
‘The benchmark intra-day reference exchange rate will be introduced in 2026 to foster a transparent foreign exchange market.
‘This benchmark will guide market participants, help reduce volatility and promote more competitive pricing on a given date, thereby enabling the introduction of more innovative products in the foreign exchange market.
‘Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange market has limited derivatives like currency swaps and options aiming to deepen markets and attract inflows.
‘However, these instruments failed after a lack of reliable reference exchange rate amid concerns over excessive speculation, rupee over-appreciation risks and interventions distorting clean floating rates.’
Meanwhile, currency dealers welcomed the move and said it will help to deepen the market.
“This will expand the market with more products and promote rupee-denominated derivatives, a currency dealer from a local bank said.
“It is something the market wanted to fix in derivative prices. This is a pricing mechanism for the rupee, he added.
By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️
Business
Sevalanka Foundation and The Coca-Cola Foundation support flood-affected communities in Biyagama, Sri Lanka
With funding support from The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), the Sevalanka Foundation has launched a humanitarian relief programme to support flood-affected communities in Biyagama. The initiative focuses on restoring access to safe water, healthcare services, and essential public facilities during the critical recovery period following the Cyclone Ditwah.
Working closely with the Divisional Secretariat, the program prioritizes the cleaning and rehabilitation of contaminated dug and tube wells, helping address the urgent post-flood challenge of access to safe water. This intervention will also support the cleaning and reopening of essential public spaces, including schools, and Grama Niladhari (GN) offices, enabling authorities and communities to resume daily activities safely. The Sevalanka Foundation and TCCF, as part of the initial response, have also donated water pumps to the Divisional Secretariat to support immediate water extraction and clean-up efforts.
In addition, as the second main component of the project, and based on the guidance of the Medical Officer of Health (MOH), support is being provided to MOH-operated healthcare facilities to restore access to emergency and essential medical services. This support includes sanitization, debris removal, hazard stabilization, and the provision of emergency medical supplies such essential medicines and hygiene products. Medical camps staffed by doctors and senior nurses will be conducted through MOH offices to provide prioritized groups of persons with health, nutrition and hygiene related relief items.
CSE activities were extremely bullish yesterday mainly due to the UK government’s announcement on tariff free access for local apparel sector exports into the UK coupled with Central Bank Governor Dr Nandalal Weerasinghe’s positive outlook on the economy this year.
Amid those developments the turnover level also improved and the All Share Price Index moved up to the 23500 mark during the trading day.
The All Share Price Index went up by 127.17 points, while the S and P SL20 rose by 56.75 points. Turnover stood at Rs 8.5 billion with 18 crossings.
Top seven crossings were: LOLC Holdings two million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 1.18 billion; its shares traded at Rs 575, Renuka Agri 45 million shares crossed to the tune of Rs 594 million; its share price was Rs 13.20, Sampath Bank 1.4 million shares crossed for Rs 215 million and its shares traded at Rs 154.35, Renuka Holdings 1.5 million shares crossed for Rs 75 million; its shares traded at Rs 50, Hayleys 200,000 shares crossed to the tune of Rs 41.3 million; its shares traded at Rs 207, Tokyo Cement (Non-Voting) 400,000 shares crossed for Rs 37.8 million; its shares sold at Rs 50 and NTB 100,000 shares crossed for Rs 326 million; its shares sold at Rs 326.
In the retail market top seven companies that contributed to the turnover were; LOLC Rs 340 million (591,000 shares traded), Sampath Bank Rs 310 million (two million shares traded), Renuka Agri Foods Rs 275 million (19.4 million shares traded), ACL Cables Rs 238 million (2.3 million shares traded), Overseas Realty Rs 215 million (4.9 million shares traded), CIC Holdings (Non Voting) Rs 180 million (6.3 million shares traded) and Wealth Trust Equity Rs 132 million (8.2 million shares traded). During the day 269.3 million share volumes changed hands in 47852 transactions.
It is said the banking and financial sectors performed well, especially Sampath Bank, while a top diversified company, LOLC Holdings, also performed well.
Yesterday, the rupee opened at Rs 309.15/30 to the US dollar in the spot market relatively flat from Rs 309.10/50 the previous day, having depreciated in recent weeks, dealers said, while bond yields opened higher.
The telegraphic transfer rates for the dollar were 305.8500 buying, 312.8500 selling; the British pound was 409.7568 buying, and 421.1186 selling, and the euro was 354.0809 buying, 365.4441 selling.
By Hiran H Senewiratne ✍️
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