Former Deputy Leader of the United National Party (UNP), MP Ravi Karunanayake, has underscored the untapped potential of Sri Lanka’s salt industry, asserting that with strategic investments and targeted government incentives, the sector could evolve into a competitive global exporter.
Addressing the media, Karunanayake criticized the continued importation of salt, describing it as a misuse of national resources and foreign currency—especially given that the country already possesses the natural conditions, infrastructure, and skilled workforce needed for high-volume salt production.
“We are spending unnecessarily on imports while ignoring the capabilities we have right here,” he stated. “If we mobilize investors and provide the right support, Sri Lankan salt can reach global markets.”
The MP stressed that for Sri Lanka to recover from economic bankruptcy, it must transition to a production-driven economy. He pointed to the salt industry as a prime example of a domestic sector with significant yet overlooked export potential.
“The salt industry clearly shows what we can achieve if we focus on strengthening local industries,” Karunanayake concluded. “It’s time we act.”
