SriLankan cashew nuts cause a stir; In-flight snack infuriates President Sirisena

President Maithripala Sirisena has taken the national carrier SriLankan Airlines to task over a few nuts.

At a recent famers´ event in the South President Sirisena had complained that, during a recent trip with SriLankan Airlines, he was treated to some cashews which were not fit for human consumption. The irate President added, they were not even suitable for dogs.

Mr Sirisena said the offending products were served to him during a flight from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu to Colombo, Sri Lanka, last week.

¨When I returned from Nepal, they served some cashew nuts on the plane [that], let alone humans, even dogs can't eat, who approves these things?" he told a group of farmers.

"Who approved the cashew? Who is responsible for this?"

However, exactly what was so offensive about the nuts is unclear.

The airline, which has at least $1bn of debt, has yet to comment on Mr Sirisena's outburst.