Colombo, Nov. 2 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka is evolving plans to avoid any food shortage because of El Niño's climate impact, mainly in the countries which are source markets for imports, an official said.
Sri Lanka imports items such as dhal, onion, potatoes and sugar.
A spokesman for the Essential Commodities Importers' and Traders' Association told Daily Mirror that sugar supply is mainly from Brazil and dhal from Australia and Canada.
"We import a bulk of dhal from Australia. Besides, 20 per cent of cargo comes from Canada. We import whole lentils and split them in our plants in the country. We can well avert a shortage as a result. Besides, Brazil is the key supplier of sugar in the wake of an export ban by India," he said.
Imports have been planned for the next couple of months without any issue.
However, he said that perishable items such as onions and potatoes are delivered weekly.
India is the main source market for onions and Pakistan for potatoes these days.
"We cannot plan for such imports in advance. Currently there is no issue till January as plans are in place. Yet we have to wait till the end of November to make an assessment in consultation with the Trade Ministry," he said.
Meanwhile, freight costs have increased because of the volatile situation in West Asia, he said.
The prices of items such as coriander have gone up because of the situation, he added.
food crisis Monday, 02 November 2026 05:53 PM
Despite having the best of weather conditions and fertile soil a country like Sri Lanka Importing lentils from Australia and Canada is like importing coal into Newcastle.
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