(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –The government is exploring the possibility of importing chicken meat from India to reduce the rising prices of the staple food in the country.
The decision to consider importing poultry meat is based on the government’s plan to distribute eggs from India at affordable prices.
Trade Minister Nalin Fernando stated that the government expects to import chicken meat and provide it to the public at a fair price just like imported eggs are being distributed now.
The reason for the high price of chicken in Sri Lanka is the influence of traders and distributors, the Minister said.
Furthermore, the government has already prepared plans to import 30 million eggs per month through the Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation to ensure food security.
However, these imported eggs are sold only to bakeries and hotels and are not distributed nationwide.
The minister alleged that Sri Lankan egg producers were exploiting consumers and that imported eggs would solve this problem.
The wholesale price of eggs in India ranges from Rs.20 to Rs. 21, the minister said that it is a practical alternative to imports.
The minister further mentioned that the import of chicken meat is still under consideration.
