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If chicken was to be imported, Rodesha would’ve gotten tender?

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Trade Minister Nalin Fernando, who boasted that chicken can be imported from India for Rs.850, and the ministry officials have realised that the production cost of a kilogram of local chicken is over Rs.1,000, internal ministry sources said.

This has been revealed during a recent discussion held among the minister, officials and local poultry businessmen.

Later, as usual, the minister had placed the blame on the officials for making wrong calculations, it was reported.

The local poultry business men have requested that they be given import licenses if chicken is to be imported based on the minister’s proposal. The minister has withdrawn the proposal due to this request.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Rohan Fernando’s Rodesha Group of Companies which supplies chicken to military bases was to get the tender if chicken is to be imported from India.

Rodesha is the company with the largest freezer storage facilities.

Meanwhile, the Poultry Producers Association has agreed to sell a kilo of chicken with skin at a price of Rs.1,250 from September 02.

Had the producers failed to come to this decision, there was a risk of further decrease in government revenue due to the import of chicken from India.

At present, poultry producers indirectly pay almost Rs.216 as indirect taxes when producing one kilo of chicken.

However, such a large amount cannot be levied as a tax when importing chicken.

Following the import of eggs from India, the special commodity tax of Rs.50 imposed by the Ministry of Finance on an egg was reduced to one rupee by the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation Limited from February 21.

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1st stock of imported coconut milk to undergo clearance, lab testing today

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The first consignment of imported coconut milk under the Government’s raw material importation programme is scheduled to undergo clearance and laboratory testing today (31), as part of a coordinated initiative by the Plantation Industries Ministry.

This initiative, approved by the Cabinet, aims to supply essential raw materials to industries linked to the coconut sector, aiming to reduce domestic coconut prices and support local manufacturers. The consignment currently under clearance includes products equivalent to 200 million coconuts. They are in the forms of frozen coconut milk, coconut milk powder and chunked coconut with testa (non-copra), imported as part of the programme initiated in March 2025. The stock will be used primarily in the coconut milk powder industry, which has been facing raw material shortages. The Plantation Industries Ministry expects this move to reduce the pressure on local coconut supplies and contribute to a drop in retail coconut prices.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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BoC employees to strike over unpaid incentives

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Employees of all Bank of Ceylon (BoC) branches have decided to walk out of service at 12.30 pm today (May 29).

The decision has been taken over the current management not taking the initiative to provide them with the 06-month incentive package approved by the Board of Directors, according to the Bank Employees’ Union.

Central Committee member of the Bank Employees’ Union – Najith Wijeratne, stated that they will initiate a token strike if this issue is not resolved by June 06.

BoC employees have also held lunchtime protests yesterday (May 28) in front of 22 branches in major cities islandwide.

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Imported salt released to market

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The National Salt Ltd. says that 2,800 MT of salt imported from India have been released to the market.

It says the food-grade salt stock, which arrived on May 23, is being distributed to the market through local salt sales agents for consumer sale.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development states that Lanka Salt Ltd. is importing 10,000 MT of salt, while over 100 importers, including those from Pettah, are bringing in an additional 100,000 MT.

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