Cabinet approves phased maize imports to sustain Thriposha production

Colombo, March 4 (Daily Mirror) - Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited will be allowed to import up to 15,000 metric tons of maize in 2026 following Cabinet approval, ensuring uninterrupted production of the fortified nutritional product.

The move comes as the company has been unable to secure sufficient local supplies of quality maize required for Thriposha production. Since maize imports are subject to multiple regulatory controls, including import control licenses and plant import permits, a streamlined mechanism was needed to facilitate timely and consistent importation.

To address this, the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development prepared a procedure for the phased import of maize in line with procurement guidelines and regulatory requirements.

The proposal, jointly submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, received Cabinet approval, allowing Thriposha production to continue without disruption in 2026.