Pelwatte Dairy, denies reports of short supply, says there was a lean season in December

Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd (PDIL), the Sri Lankan dairy group, has not slowed down its production or output but is effectively navigating the Sri Lankan diary industry’s annual “Lean Season of December-April” sequence.

Denying social media reports of a shortage, Susantha Malwatte, the Deputy General Manager of Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd said: “Pelwatte factories are continuing their production runs as usual. There is only the predictable dip in the output levels due to the annual ‘December-March’ industry output decline. This is the usual seasonal lean period of dairy farmers’ output experienced during December-March period. This is not specific only to Pelwatte Dairy but regularly experienced by all Sri Lankan dairy producers and the industry supply chain. From May-June to October, more milk is supplied to the processing market resulting in higher production of milk for that period while December – March is the season of lean period, which is what is taking place at present. Our high milking cycle in May-October dries up by December as the cows lay back for their next cycle of pregnancy and delivery. This pattern of lower dairy output does not stop PDIL from continuing its assistance to the farming community.”

In Y2020/’21, PDIL increased its farmer – base by 16 per cent, supporting over 10,000 dairy farmers and other associated families thus making its own contribution to the national dairy supply chain. In fact, in pandemic-hit 2020/’21, PDIL’s farmer pay-outs have increased by a huge 70 per cent.

Some days ago there were long queues at the Pelwatte outlet at Mirihana, Nugegoda which may have triggered social media reports of a shortage. There is in fact a shortage of imported milk powder due to the dollar crisis.