• Govt. hopes to purchase 20,000 tonnes to stabilise prices  

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana 

Turmeric plantation in Sri Lanka has been expanded to 3,500 hectares this year compared to less than 100 hectares in the recent past and the harvest is awaited, Sate Minister Janaka Wakkumbura told Parliament yesterday.  

Responding to a question raised by SJB (Samagi Jana Balawegaya)  MP Buddhika Pathirana in the House, the State Minister said an increase in the local production is expected. 

Also, the State Minister assured that the government will take effective steps to stabilise the price of turmeric in the future. 

“The Government hopes to purchase 20,000 tonnes in order to keep the prices stable. It is a fact that the price of turmeric is as high as Rs 4,000 a kilo,” he said. 

“Price of turmeric went up to Rs 6,000 a kilo during the recent times,” he added.

• It is a fact that the price of turmeric is as high as Rs 4,000 a kilo