President decides to ban import of palm oil with immediate effect
Posted by Editor on April 5, 2021 - 6:00 pm

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered the importation of Palm Oil into Sri Lanka to be banned with immediate effect.
Secretary to the President Dr. P. B. Jayasundara informed the Department of Imports and Exports Control to issue the respective gazette. Also, the stock of already imported palm oil will not be released to the market.
Concurrently, the cultivation of oil palm (Katu Pol) will be completely banned and the government is planning for the total eradication of palm oil consumption in Sri Lanka, President’s Media Division stated.
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Kudos to the President GR for banning the importation, cultivation and total eradication of the consumption of palm oil. There appears to be an underhand concerted effort to denigrate the use of Coconut oil. The Director Gen.of Sri Lanka Standards Institute has reportedly said on TV “that the toxic coconut oil racket should not have been made public” and refused to name the contaminated food items in the market lest the companies should be hurt !!!! How has it come to pass that a professional of this calibre has been appointed to this public position ?? Food security is as important as National security. I hope the President will take urgent and adequate action in this and related issues which are critically important.