January 31, 2012

Sri Lanka seeks to raise milk output

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday (Jan 30) called for increased production of organic dairy products, with an emphasis on liquid milk.

The remark was made during the President's visit to the Polonnaruwa milk factory of Milco Private Limited to inspect its activities.

President Rajapaksa pointed out that the country imports more than 75,000 tonnes of milk powder annually, for which it pays round US$400 million. "If the country could save such huge sums of money from going to foreign countries, it could be used for development activities."

He also requested officials to work with more dedication by providing healthy dairy products against genetically engineered livestock products which are available in the market.

President Rajapaksa also inspected the factory's ultra high temperature milk processing plant, recently imported from Finland at a cost of INR315 million (US$6.35 million). The plant is expected to increase milk production.

The Cabinet recently approved a proposal by the Livestock Ministry to increase dairy milk production by bringing 2,500 cows to the factory's 2,500-acre dairy farm in Polonnaruwa.

According to Livestock and Rural Community Development Minister Arumugam Thondaman, Milco had the capacity to process 70,000 litres of milk per eight hour shift as at present.