India declared on 5/12/2022 (Monday) that it would promote the expansion of Sri Lanka’s dairy industry and milk production in an effort to lessen the island nation’s reliance on imported dairy products.

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which sells milk under the Amul brand, and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) officials have taken steps to provide the technical assistance required for the production of milk in Sri Lanka, according to a statement from Sri Lanka’s President Media Division.
President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has appointed a panel of public and commercial entities to collaborate with the multidisciplinary team of NDDB and develop long- and short-term plans to improve Sri Lanka’s milk production and lessen its reliance on milk imports.
Plans to undertake short- and medium-term plans to double local milk production as well as a long-term programme to make Sri Lanka milk-self-sufficient were addressed at the meeting on Monday, according to the statement.
“National Dairy Development Board Senior General Manager Rajesh Onkarnath Gupta, General Manager Sunil Shivprasad Sinha, Senior Manager Rajesh Kumar Sharma and other representatives participated in the discussions.” Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Nimal Samaranayake, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board Professor H.W. Cyril, and other committee members and officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and line agencies also took part.
The action was taken at a time when concerns are also being voiced regarding Sri Lanka’s food security situation as a result of the rise in malnutrition, particularly among youngsters.