The Sri Lankan subsidiary of New Zealand's Fonterra resumed operations on Wednesday, a company official said, after closing temporarily last week amid staff safety concerns following protests and a court ban.

"We have resumed operations today," a Fonterra spokesperson told Reuters.

Issuing a statement Chief Executive Theo Spierings said: “Last Friday we took the decision to temporarily suspend our Sri Lanka operations to protect our people, and to protect our farmer shareholders’ assets.

“I am now confident that our people are safe and the business is ready to resume operations and continue selling high quality dairy nutrition to Sri Lankan people.”

The Enjoining Order, which had prevented Fonterra from selling its products in Sri Lanka, was overturned in the Gampaha District Court last Friday.

Mr Spierings said Fonterra will continue to work with Sri Lankan and New Zealand government authorities on a long-term sustainable solution to support its Sri Lankan customers, communities and the local dairy sector.