Hambanthota:
The harvesting of salt by the Hambantota salterns took place at the auspicious time at the Hambantota salterns, also known as Mahalevaya.
Salt Corporation Chairman Ayub Khan said the incessant rains in Hambantota district had hampered a good salt harvest last year.
He said the saltern can produce 60,000 mt of salt annually but that was reduced to 20,000 mt during last year.
Khan said that dry weather is conducive for salt production. Chairman Khan, the employees and the Hambantota Urban Council members participated at the ceremony.
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http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/02/02/local/hambantota-salt-harvesting-begins
Puttalam:
A spell of unprecedented rain in 2015 and sporadic rains in 2016 had a domino effect on the salt industry in Sri Lanka.
"We have never had it so bad", said a factory worker at the government run Mantai Salt factory in Puttalam.
He said: "In 2014, we produced close to 1,20,000 MT, but by the end of 2015, our production had dropped to 38,000 MT. There is a shortage of salt".
In addition, a strike by the workers at the plant demanding better allowances stretching over a few also contributed the disruption in the supply.
Lanka Salt Ltd General Manager Sunimal Ariyasena, however, refuted news of a shortage in salt.
"In 2014, we made about 1,20,000 MT. That gave us an excess of stock for 2015. Though production was low in 2015, we met targets using our 2014 stock. There is no shortage. We have even supplied some salt companies with salt to meet their shortages."
He said: "This year is better, we have made 25,000 MT up to now."
According to Ariyasena, Sri Lankans use about 300MT of salt per day, local production, however, has not always been able to meet this demand.
Lanka Salt Ltd also insisted that they sold their salt at a maximum retail price of Rs 60.
Another Market leader in salt speaking to Daily News said, "Last year our production dropped from 600MT to 100MT. We haven't increased our prices much though. It is third parties and wholesalers who buy from us who are doing this. We have stopped that now".
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http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=2016/04/09/local/78712