Sri Lanka to establish committee to determine maize prices, regulate imports
Sri Lanka has approved a new maize pricing and import committee to stabilise feed supplies while protecting local farmers. Supervised imports will be allowed during shortages. Cabinet also cleared phased corn imports for Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited to support nutritional product production.
SRI LANKA – Sri Lanka’s government has approved the establishment of a new committee to determine maize pricing and oversee import decisions, as authorities attempt to stabilize the supply of the grain used widely in the country’s animal feed industry.
Minister Nalinda Jayatissa announced that the committee will be appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and will develop a structured approach to maize pricing and import management.
The move follows recurring market disruptions and concerns about balancing domestic farmer protection with the needs of the livestock and feed sectors.
“Due to various problems that have arisen in the past, it has been decided that a formal methodology should be developed for the import of maize,” Jayatissa said. Cabinet has already approved the proposal to establish the committee.
Under the new framework, maize imports will be permitted when local supplies are insufficient.
The government stated that maize required for the production of animal feed will be imported by animal feed producers and animal feed importers registered with the Department of Animal Production and Health.
These imports will take place under the supervision of the Department of Animal Production and Health and the Department of Agriculture.
According to Jayatissa, the policy is designed to ensure that imports only occur when the local maize harvest is unavailable in the market.
“It was decided to import maize required for the production of animal feed by animal feed producers and animal feed importers registered with the Department of Animal Production and Health under the supervision of the Department of Animal Production and Health and the Department of Agriculture.”
He added that when the local maize harvest is not available in the market so as not to harm local maize farmers.
Maize is a critical raw material for Sri Lanka’s poultry and livestock industries, which rely heavily on compound feed.
However, domestic production has long fallen short of national demand. Data from the Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture indicate that the country typically produces between 250,000 and 300,000 metric tons of maize annually, while demand from the feed sector alone can exceed 600,000 metric tons.
As a result, Sri Lanka regularly imports maize to bridge the gap. According to trade data, the country imported more than 400,000 metric tons of maize in several recent years, primarily from regional suppliers including India, Argentina and Ukraine.
The grain is used mainly in poultry feed formulations, where maize can account for 50–60% of compound feed rations.
Cabinet approves phased corn imports
Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved the phased import of up to 15,000 metric tons of corn in 2026 for the production of Triposa by Sri Lanka Triposa Limited.
The decision follows difficulties in procuring sufficient high-quality corn locally.
Corn imports are subject to import control licences and plant import permits.
According to the Cabinet, a procedure has been prepared by the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development to ensure imports comply with procurement guidelines and regulatory requirements.
The joint proposal was submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.
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Source : Milling MEA
