President grants approval to import chicken

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has granted approval for importing chicken for food industrial purposes, says Minister of Trade Nalin Fernando.

Speaking at a press briefing held in Colombo today (31), the minister expressed that the decision was reached during a special discussion chaired by the President regarding the cost of living.

Commenting further regarding the matter, the minister said that the government has taken this decision in order to reduce the suffering of the people due to the high prices of chicken in the market.

Fernando also asserted that if the prices of chicken in the market are not controlled by this decision, steps will be taken to import chicken for consumption in the future.

In addition, President Wickremesinghe has instructed the agricultural authorities to prepare a program to provide chicken and eggs at an affordable price to the people of the country through increasing production in the future.

However, the President had also instructed to take necessary measures to import parent birds in order to produce more chicks through breeder farms.