• Limited cultivation under strict conditions

The Ministries of Agriculture and Plantation Industries are preparing to lift the ban on oil palm cultivation, following a Cabinet decision that has been submitted for approval.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (3), Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne said that specific conditions have been identified when selecting land for cultivation, and that only a limited extent of land will be used.

“While protecting water sources, we will also take steps to minimise environmental damage. Considering the economic value, we have to take this step. We cannot continue to rely entirely on importing palm oil at high prices,” he said.

He stressed that cultivation would not be expanded indiscriminately.

“We have absolutely no plans to grow oil palm across the entire country. Suitable lands will be selected based on proper land inspections and soil testing before approval is granted,” he added.

Oil palm cultivation has been fully banned in Sri Lanka for several years.

However, experts have in recent years challenged long-held concerns surrounding the crop and pointed to the need for local production, given that Sri Lanka currently imports its entire requirement of palm oil.

Amid expectations of a policy shift, the plantation sector — including 11 Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) — has already submitted proposals to cultivate an additional 10,600 hectares of oil palm in suitable areas.

Attempts to contact Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries Sundaralingam Pradeep for comment were unsuccessful.