The Hon. Rathna Gamage - Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, the Gazette before us contains Regulations primarily about salt. Yet much of the Opposition’s talk veered to sugar and sacks. In Parliament we should address the matter at hand. Hon. Minister Sunil Handunnetti explained why the Cabinet decision of 19 May 2025 (Gazette 2437/04) was taken to temporarily free salt stocks and allow imports up to 10 June 2025 to stabilize supply.

¶ 02 As Deputy Minister for Fisheries, I received many representations. In Negombo, dried fish processors told us they need about 500 metric tons of salt per day. Assuming 20 working days per month, that is 10,000 metric tons — a significant amount. In a production economy, we must be mindful of salt availability. Our Government, now about nine months in office, acted accordingly.

¶ 03 Hon. Namal Rajapaksa made various points — but where is he now? He spoke and left. He seems to think producing salt is like making hoppers. It is not instant. The President assumed office in September; the Government formed in November. By December 2024 we foresaw a salt shortfall and acted to arrange imports. Salt production takes time — at least close to a year.

¶ 04 Technically, salt production requires dry winds, high temperatures, clay‑rich non‑leaky soil, and strong sunlight. Seawater is pumped through three successive ponds: in the first, calcium carbonate precipitates; in the second, calcium sulfate; in the third, sodium chloride. The remaining brine contains magnesium ions; if not leached out, the salt turns bitter. The pond cycle alone takes around three months; then the salt is heaped and sun‑cured so magnesium drains off as “karam,” which takes another six months. Thus, roughly a year is needed from start to finish. Therefore, having foreseen constraints in December, we arranged limited imports.

¶ 05 Sri Lanka’s annual salt requirement is about 180,000 metric tons — around 130,000 for food and 50,000 for non‑food industrial uses such as ice plants, dried fish processing, and biscuits. Production data show: 199,000 MT in 2022; 179,000 MT in 2023; and 103,000 MT in 2024 — clearly a reduction, due in part to rainfall.

¶ 06 Roughly two‑thirds of our salt is produced in Hambantota District — at the Maha Lewaya and Palatupana salterns — with the balance from other salterns. Therefore, the temporary import was a measured, technical response to stabilize supply for both households and industries.