The government will introduce strict controls on the distribution of salt following a sharp decline in domestic production caused by recent heavy rains, Minister of Industries Sunil Handunnetti announced.
Speaking to the media, the Minister explained that excessive rainfall over the past weeks across all major salt-producing regions has severely disrupted evaporation processes essential to salt harvesting. This has resulted in a nationwide shortage of salt, prompting the government to take corrective action through imports.
“The concentration levels required for salt production could not be maintained due to the rainfall. As a result, local production has dropped significantly, leading to this shortage,” Minister Handunnetti said.
He emphasised that the government cannot control weather patterns, noting that “neither officials, workers, nor politicians have any control over the climate.” Due to these unavoidable conditions, salt imports have been initiated to bridge the supply gap.
However, Minister Handunnetti warned against panic buying and hoarding, adding that regulatory measures will be enforced to prevent excessive individual purchases.
“We cannot allow the public to take home 10 to 15 kilograms of salt at a time. That is simply not feasible under current conditions. A controlled distribution mechanism will be implemented to ensure fair access for all,” he added.
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