Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka currently produces only 43% of its daily milk requirement, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne told Parliament on Friday (24).
Addressing Parliament, Karunaratne said the Government has allocated Rs. 1 billion in this year’s Budget to increase annual milk production from 410 million litres to 1.2 billion litres.
He also announced that a further Rs. 1 billion has been allocated to develop the Nikaweratiya Breeding Farm, which is expected to become a nucleus breeding centre for high-quality dairy cattle and buffalo.
The Deputy Minister said the Government is implementing several initiatives to strengthen the dairy sector, including the modernisation of livestock breeding farms, the expansion of the National Milk Production Programme, and the provision of additional support and facilities for local dairy farmers.
According to the Government, these measures are intended to boost domestic milk production, reduce dependence on imported dairy products, and improve the country’s long-term food security.
Separately, some Tamil organisations and representatives have raised concerns over access to grazing lands in parts of the Eastern Province, particularly in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts. They allege that illegal encroachment and the occupation of traditional grazing lands have adversely affected Tamil livestock farmers, resulting in reduced livestock numbers and lower milk production. They have also called on the Government to take action to address these concerns.
The Government’s response to these allegations was not included in the parliamentary statement, and no official response was immediately available.
