The President pointed out that government is ready to provide facilities for dairy farmers to increase the milk production. Therefore the local dairy farmer should be uplifted instead of importing milk powder. Educational and media campaigns should be launched to popularise liquid milk among consumers.

Sri Lanka annually imports more than 75 thousand metric tons of milk powder. Foreign exchange amounting to 400 million dollars has to be spent on this purpose. The President said that the saved foreign exchange can be used for development purposes. Milko factory is also producing preserved milk for the first time. The President inspected the machine worth 315 million rupees imported from Finland to increase the production capacity. Deputy Minister H.R. Mitrapala and Milko Chairman Sunil Wickramasinghe also participated in the occasion.

It is expected there will be an increase of the milk production at the Polonnaruwa farm of the National Livestock Development Board anticipates up to 40,000 liters per day by raising 2500 cows on an area of 2500 acres. The cabinet has given its approval for the proposal.

Pix by: Nalin Hewapathirana