Govt. suspends poultry imports

The import of poultry products has been suspended to safeguard local producers, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa told Parliament yesterday.

“I have already stopped the import of poultry products to Sri Lanka,” said Minister Zoysa yesterday, responding to a question for an oral answer raised by UPFA Joint Opposition lawmaker Bandula Gunawardana.

Highlighting the success of the development program under the Unity Government, the Minister stated that a day-old broiler chick production had gone up by 10 in 2016, reaching 138.32 million. In 2016, Sri Lanka had produced 182,690 metric tons of broiler chicken, marking an 11% YoY growth.

“The industry is doing well. In 2015, egg production was 2,294.08 million. In 2016, it was 2,304.06 million. In 2015 per capita chicken consumption was 7.8 kg and this has gone up to 8.5 kg in 2016. We were able to export 124.7 metric tons under the value added category in 2016,” said Minister Zoysa, who assured that poultry imports would not be allowed under his watch. (AH)