Sri Lanka’s Agricultural Ministry in 2016 signed an agreement with China to export more than 10,000 tons of bananas. However, according to a statement from former Agricultural Ministry Additional Secretary, Dr. Subaheenkenda, this weekend, two years later there wasn’t even a single kilo of bananas exported.
Subaheenkenda told the Daily Mirror that, according to the agreement, the Agricultural Ministry was to send a list of 150 banana cultivators to the Chinese government and added that however, it had failed to prepare a list as of yet.
According to the agreement, the Chinese government had ordered the Ambun, Ambul and Kolikuttu varieties from Sri Lanka. When asked about the matter, Secretary B. Wijeratne said the Ministry could not supply the varieties demanded by China and said they were still studying the matter.
Dr. Subaheenkenda said the Chinese government had agreed to provide market opportunities for papaw, pineapple, mango and Rambutan as well.
