Middle East war hits dhal, sprat supplies to Sri Lanka

By Kelum Bandara

Sri Lanka’s imports of sprat and dhal - two key food commodities used for regular meals - has been hampered due to the Israeli - US war against Iran, an importer said yesterday.   

Sri Lanka imports a bulk of its sprat requirement (Halmesso) from Iran.  A spokesman for the Essential Food Commodities” Importers and Traders Association said that sprat imports from Iran had stopped as a result of the war. He said Sri Lanka imports more than 80 percent of its sprat requirement, and a bulk of it comes from Iran. The rest comes from Dubai and Thailand.   

He said dhal imports from Canada had also been hit in the midst of the crisis.   

“We import dhal from Australia and Canada. Canadian supplies transit in ports in the Middle East. There are now delays,” he said.  

Dhal prices have shot up above Rs. 300 a kilo in the wholesale market .  

Besides, he said freight and marine insurance charges had increased as a result of the conflict, leading to a spike in the prices of imported food items.