April 21, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has recently made a decision to import a significant quantity of onions from India through ‘Lanka Sathosa,’ a state-owned enterprise.
This decision comes in the wake of India’s announcement to lift the export ban on onions for its neighbouring nation, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
India, accordingly, has agreed to supply a stock of 10,000 metric tonnes of onions to Sri Lanka.
Discussions regarding the logistics of importing onions were conducted at the Ministry of Trade, considering whether to engage the state or private sector for the procurement process.
Ultimately, it was concluded that the imports will be facilitated through Lanka Sathosa.
Sathosa Chief Pasanda Yapa Abeywardena confirmed that the initial consignment will consist of 2,000 metric tonnes of big onions.
However, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando emphasised that Sri Lanka’s monthly requirement for big onions stands at approximately 20,000 metric tonnes.
