Sri Lanka produces only about 43% of its daily milk requirement, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne told Parliament yesterday (January 24). Citing data from the Department of Census and Statistics, he revealed a significant gap in domestic production that forces heavy reliance on imports.
Speaking during a parliamentary session, Karunaratne noted that total annual milk production currently stands at 410 million litres. To address this deficit, the Government has allocated Rs. 1 billion in this year’s Budget aimed at boosting output.
The announcement underscores ongoing challenges in achieving self-sufficiency in dairy production, a key goal for the agriculture sector. The funding is expected to support initiatives to increase local yields and reduce import dependence.