According to the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka’s fisheries sector, vegetable cultivation, and rubber cultivation showed negative growth trends in the second quarter of 2025 (April 1 – June 30).
The report highlighted contractions in ‘Freshwater fishing and aquaculture’ (34.8%), ‘Growing of rubber’ (10.8%), ‘Marine fishing’ (5.2%), and ‘Growing of vegetables’ (3.6%). The decline in rubber cultivation, a key export contributor, was attributed to seasonal cultivation periods in March–April and heavy rainfall in May–June.
Despite these setbacks, overall agriculture, industry, and services sectors recorded positive growth, rising by 2.0%, 5.8%, and 3.9% respectively. Several crops, including paddy, cereals, sugarcane, fruits, and spices, reported significant growth, while tea production, a major foreign exchange earner, expanded by 6% in Q2.
The report also highlighted strong growth in animal production, which includes livestock for meat, dairy, and eggs, recording a 13.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Poultry meat production rose by 10.9%, egg production surged by 35.3%, and milk production increased by 2.5%. The Department noted a significant decline in egg production costs during the quarter.
