India expresses keenness to support Sri Lankan dairy sector

• President appoints committee consisting of representatives of public and private sectors to work with multidisciplinary team from India’s National Dairy Development Board and Amul

India this week expressed its keenness to extend support to uplift Sri Lanka’s dairy sector.

This was conveyed when Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe along with a delegation from India’s flagship dairy brand Amul. The discussions focussed on raising national milk production and providing necessary technical support to the production of liquid milk in Sri Lanka together with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of India and Amul Milk Company. 

The objective is to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk and milk products in the long term with short and medium-term goals to double local milk production, a statement from the President’s Media Office said.

The President appointed a committee consisting of representatives of the public and private sectors to work with the multidisciplinary team of the National Dairy Development Board of India to prepare a short, medium, and long-term plan for the development of the dairy sector in the country. This endeavour is aimed at preventing the decline in milk production and dependence on imported milk in Sri Lanka. The discussion was held between the members of the committee and representatives of the NDDB.

Indian High Commission Economic and Commercial Affairs First Secretary Dr. Rakesh Pandey, representatives of National Dairy Development Board of India and Amul Milk Company and a group of public and private sector representatives appointed by the President also attended the discussions.