The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

¶ 01 Hon. Member, first, a clarification: our interventions were with the swine industry—we met stakeholders and visited farms; I did not visit the area mentioned as “Chantal.” On eggs and meat, Sri Lanka can meet domestic needs. The country has long been self-sufficient in eggs, except for a period when imports were permitted which disrupted the sector. We produce a significant volume of chicken meat and also export some to countries like Maldives and Gulf states. Certain imports have occurred to cater to specific consumer segments, such as diplomatic missions and expatriates (e.g., from China), and for value addition and re-export by the private sector, not by the State. We have a plan to achieve full self-sufficiency and are seeking market access to eight countries, including China, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan, to export Sri Lankan chicken meat.