The Hon. Namal Karunaratne
Hon. Namal Karunaratne reported on consultations with banana farmers and visits to key banana markets where unsold produce was being discarded, noting that Ambul prices remain volatile despite satisfactory prices for Kolikuttu and Seeni. He said the Government is formulating a plan to support banana farmers through export promotion with private-sector partnerships, small-scale value addition, credit facilitation, and a state-supported processing framework to improve farmer returns and generate foreign exchange.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 I met farmers on the ground including Tony, Jayantha, Tharanga and Sisira. Current indicative prices: Ambul ~Rs. 60/kg, Kolikuttu ~Rs. 200/kg, Seeni ~Rs. 80/kg. While Kolikuttu and Seeni are satisfactory, Ambul remains volatile. Historically, there was no comprehensive plan to strengthen banana farmers or add value. We are now formulating plans. I have visited the key banana markets: Barawakumbuka, Mayurapura, Sooriyawewa, Thunkama, Moraketiya, Pannagamuwa, Ketagalara, Panamura, Middeniya, and Alioluara, where unsold produce was being discarded. The Government is now focusing on: - Promoting exports via private sector partnerships (e.g., Rajanganaya-based links), - Supporting small-scale value addition industries in the area, - Facilitating credit, - Developing a state-supported value addition and processing framework. We aim to improve farmer returns and earn foreign exchange.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 19 March 2026 ·No. 23381 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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/lk/speeches/30084
Cite as: The Hon. Namal Karunaratne. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 19 March 2026. No. 23381. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/30084