May 12, 2010
Sri Lanka faces temporary chicken shortage
Sri Lanka's All-Island Poultry Association has asked the government not to import more chicken to meet the marginal and temporary shortage, as doing so would affect the local poultry industry.
The main cause for the current marginal shortage of chicken in the market is due to the high demand in the previous month with festivities and elections, said the Association chairman, Dr D.D. Wanasinghe.
He also observed the marginal shortage was also due to elections, which saw an increase in social events. He explained that chicken is a favourite dish at social functions and during festive seasons, and added that marginal shortage of chicken at the moment was due to this reason.
"The opening of the North and the East has seen many restaurants and cafes opening in those areas, and the demand for chicken consumption keeps on increasing," he said.
Dr Wanasinghe criticised the Consumer Affairs Authority for being harsh on local poultry breeding as the fixed price on chicken has not increased since September 2008, and this has caused some local poultry breeders to close down due to the production costs being higher than the selling price.
