Industry Minister Sunil Handunnetti has issued a firm reminder to the public: don’t expect to walk away with sacks of salt, as the country is facing a shortage due to unrelenting rains flooding salt pans across Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the worsening situation, Handunnetti explained that all salt-producing regions have been hit by heavy rainfall, disrupting the evaporation process essential for salt harvesting. “The required concentration levels can’t be maintained under these weather conditions,” he said, highlighting that even paddy-like flood levels have now reached the usually dry salt flats.
The minister didn’t mince words about the cause: “This isn’t something employees, officials, or even politicians can control. We can’t manage the weather.”
As a result, the government has had to turn to salt imports to address the shortfall.
But with scarcity comes regulation. Handunnetti emphasized that salt distribution must now be done under strict controls to prevent hoarding. “We simply can’t allow someone to take home 10 kilos when they only need one. This is not the time for panic buying.”
The government is expected to limit salt sales per person until conditions normalize, in order to ensure fair access and prevent black-market exploitation.
So for now, it’s one kilo per customer and no exceptions.
