The Colombo government has rushed to buy 35,000 tons from India, but in many areas of the country prices have skyrocketed and poor quality salt is sold. Producers justify the floods, but workers and nutritionists remember that not even the tsunami 20 years ago caused a similar crisis.
Colombo (Sri Lanka) -In recent weeks, Sri Lanka has been facing a salt shortage that could last for weeks. Workers at the Hambantota salt factory (in Southern province) believe that the situation could last until the end of the year and attribute the shortage to political interference. They claim that the hasty sale of salt factory stocks to the private sector largely contributed to the current shortage. The government has decided to import 35,000 tons from India, a measure to alleviate the crisis, but it is not certain that it will be enough to fully satisfy national needs.
Meanwhile, table salt is in short supply in many areas and stores are distributing packets of salt to consumers at exorbitant prices. Several food establishments in various parts of the country, especially those located in urban areas, have stopped selling food due to the shortage of rice and salt.
The domestic salt industry, led by Lanka Salt Limited, typically produces between 135,000 and 140,000 metric tons annually, meeting 60 to 65 percent of domestic demand. Although the Hambantota salt works does not currently have surplus reserves, about a year ago it had the capacity to supply salt throughout the year without experiencing shortages. In addition to the Hambantota salt pan, there are two large salt pans at Koholankala and Palatupana. The annual turnover from the sale of salt is about Rs 1,500 million.
Nutritionists Kelum Maddumage and Ashvini Caldera tell that “the current production standards for “Lak Lunu” (the brand under which it is sold by Lanka Salt Limited ed.) are not at all satisfactory. Dust, husks and other impurities are mixed with salt from the Hambantota salt pan and affiliated salt pans. “Salt is marketed without proper inspection, which has led to the withdrawal of ISO 20,000 certification due to poor quality.”
Although some attribute the decrease in salt production to the recent floods, during a visit to the salt flats a few days ago we found that none of the salt flats were flooded,” the nutritionists continue, “so this statement is unfounded, since Even during the tsunami disaster, when the Hambantota salt pans were closed for six months, the country did not have to import salt using warehouse stocks.” According to employees, the main cause of the salt shortage is attributed to administrative deficiencies and the absence of salt production in the salt pans in 2023. Generally, salt production takes place in March-April and October-November, respectively. Once started, the production process continues naturally until producing the salt that the country needs. Any surplus production is stored for future use,” Kelum and Ashvini emphasize.
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