Largest saltern in Kurumpity

Suraj A.Bandara

The Government will construct the largest saltern at Kurumpity in Trincomalee to produce Sri Lanka's salt requirement. Nearly 60 percent of the current annual salt requirement of the country is produced locally and the remaining 40 percent is imported at a cost of nearly Rs.380 million, Fisheries Ministry sources said.

The construction is under way to build the saltern in 1,800-acre, and it is expected to produce 50,000 metric tons of salt in a year. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry sources said the project will generate 800 direct employment and over 1,500 indirect employment. The project will help reduce the salt prices.

Before 1977, the countries was almost self-sufficient in salt with production in several salterns in Hambantota and Puttalam districts. The Cabinet last month granted approval to expand the Mannar Saltern at a cost of Rs.25 million.