Bitter truth behind Puttalam’s salt production drop   Salt production in the Puttalam district has been hindered by incessant rains in the area. Puttalam district supplies 45 per cent of the market share. The salterns are spread over an area of about 4,000 Ha in Kalpiiya, Wanthavilluwa, Mundalam and Puttalam Divisional Secretary areas. More than 2,000 [...]

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Puttalam’s salt industry drowning in rain, threatening country’s supply

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Bitter truth behind Puttalam’s salt production drop   Salt production in the Puttalam district has been hindered by incessant rains in the area.

Puttalam district supplies 45 per cent of the market share.

The salterns are spread over an area of about 4,000 Ha in Kalpiiya, Wanthavilluwa, Mundalam and Puttalam Divisional Secretary areas. More than 2,000 people are engaged in the industry with around 20,000 families depending on it.

Sri Lanka’s annual consumption of salt is around 125,000 MT and Puttalam district contributed 46,000 of that amount last year, the amount being less than the previous year.

One of the main reasons is the inflow of rain water into the lagoon affecting the salt concentration and thereby the production.

Puttalam’s Salt Producers Association president, Ramiz Badurdeen said that for the last two years they have been experiencing rains during the seasons usually good for salt production.

He said a scientific approach needs to be adopted for the salt industry to survive, if not Sri Lanka may soon have to import salt from India.

Niluk Dilhan, a private salt producer said that salt production in the area has been drastically affected due to the rains and many are losing employment. He said the stocks available with them were dropping fast.

An employee in a saltern Mohamed Aniz said that many of those engaged in the trade have been affected.

Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe 

 

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