Sri Lanka bans palm oil imports, tells producers to uproot plantations
Sri Lanka on Monday banned imports of palm oil and new palm plantations, and told producers to uproot existing plantations in a phased manner, in a surprise move that baffled the edible oil industry.
Palm oil imports and the number of plantations have been increasing in recent years in Sri Lanka, a leading producer of coconut oil.
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in a statement the aim was to “make the country free from oil palm plantation and palm oil consumption.”
Environmentalists say palm oil production has led to widespread deforestation and damage to ecosystems.