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Sri Lanka’s salt industry, deeply rooted in the economic fabric of regions like Puttalam and Hambantota, is confronting an unprecedented challenge as climate change redefines the region’s weather patterns. Traditionally thriving in arid, dry zones, the industry is now grappling with shifting rainfall patterns that threaten production and sustainability.
Unpredictable Rainfall: A Growing Threat
In a recent statement while participating in a TV program, Mr.Ganaka Amarasinghe, Managing Director of Raigam Salt and Chairman of the Salt Production Association in Sri Lanka, highlighted the growing concerns over climate irregularities. “Puttalam and Hambantota, once renowned for their arid climates, are experiencing increasing rainfall,” he explained. This disruption has severely impacted the storage and production processes, leading to a noticeable shortage of salt in the country. According to Amarasinghe, these changes signal a worrying trend that could jeopardize the future of Sri Lanka’s salt industry if left unaddressed.
TV Derana reported in their “Rebuild Sri Lanka” program that the country’s annual salt demand is 180,000 metric tons, with 155,000 metric tons used for food and 25,000 metric tons for industrial needs. Due to the disruptions in local production, a decision has been made to import 30,000 metric tons of raw, non-iodized salt in early 2025. The tender process for these imports began on December 21st, 2024, and will remain open until January 2nd, 2025. Salt is not just a staple for enhancing taste and preserving food but is also critical for manufacturing soaps, cleaning agents, and agricultural fertilizers, underscoring its economic importance.
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A Growing Challenge in Puttalam and Hambantota
For decades, Hambantota and Puttalam have been at the forefront of Sri Lanka’s salt production, contributing significantly to the country’s overall supply. However, these traditionally dry regions are now facing the challenge of unseasonal rains. Mr. Ganaka Amarasinghe, Managing Director of Raigam Salt and Director of Puttalam Salt Limited, explains the impact:
“Rainfall patterns have changed drastically. What were once arid zones are now experiencing unexpected rains. This has led to the depletion of stored salt reserves and disrupted production cycles,” Mr.Amarasinghe said.
The result has been a notable salt shortage, with production in Hambantota—historically contributing around 50% of the nation’s salt demand—falling behind. We contacted Lanka Salt Limited to get more insights on this issue. According to Mr. Indika Suranga, Assistant General Manager (R & D) at Lanka Salt Ltd., Hambantota’s salt industry has been hit hard by unprecedented rainfall in 2023, which exceeded 2,000 mm.
“This region typically thrives on annual rainfall below 1,100mm. The recent rains not only disrupted the production process but also required us to revise cycles multiple times due to short rain bursts,” Mr.Suranga noted.
Meteorological Insights into Rainfall Variability
We had a conversation with the Director of Climate Studies at the Met Department of Sri Lanka. According to Ms. A.R. Warnasooriya, Director of Training and Climate Studies at the Department of Meteorology, these challenges are rooted in global climate trends.
“Rainfall variability and frequency are increasing worldwide, and Sri Lanka is no exception. High-intensity rainfall events have become more frequent, as we saw in 2023 and 2024, with severe floods and irrigation challenges,” she explained.
Ms.Warnasooriya emphasized that these are not isolated phenomena but part of a broader pattern linked to climate change.
A Silver Lining in the North
Amid the struggles in Hambantota and Puttalam, the salt pans in the Northern Province, particularly at Elephant Pass, tell a different story. Mr.Gayantha Thilakaratne, Manager of National Salt at Elephant Pass, revealed to us that 2024 has been a record-breaking year for the region.
“This year marks our best production since 2019. Despite considerable rainfall in the Northern Province, we managed to adapt and maintain high production levels,”Mr. Thilakaratne said in a conversation with Climate Fact Checks.
Elephant Pass alone contributed approximately 15% of the country’s total salt demand in 2024, highlighting the potential of strategic management and geographic diversification in offsetting the challenges posed by climate change.
The Broader Challenges of Salt Production
Salt production relies heavily on natural processes involving sunlight and wind, requiring extended periods of dry weather. Disruptions to these conditions can stall the evaporation process, leading to delays or even complete halts in production.
“The conversion of seawater to salt typically takes three months,” explained Mr.Suranga. “However, initiating salt production requires at least 1.5 months of continuous dry weather to begin salt deposition as part of intermediate cycles. Frequent and unpredictable rains disrupt this process, resulting in production losses”, he said.
A Call for Adaptation
As Sri Lanka’s salt industry faces these mounting challenges, the contributions from each region highlight the need for a diversified and adaptive approach:
Hambantota’s Contribution: Historically supplying 50% of the nation’s salt, Hambantota needs improved forecasting and innovative solutions to withstand increased rainfall.
Elephant Pass’s Success: Contributing 15% of the country’s salt demand, the Northern Province demonstrates the value of strategic resilience and regional diversification.
Puttalam’s Role: While the region struggles with shifting weather patterns, targeted investments could help stabilize its historically significant contributions.
Moving Forward
The salt industry is a microcosm of the broader impacts of climate change on Sri Lanka’s economy and livelihoods. By integrating advanced meteorological tools, exploring alternative production methods, and diversifying production sites, the country can mitigate these challenges.
The resilience shown by the Elephant Pass site offers hope, but Hambantota and Puttalam require urgent intervention to reclaim their leading roles in Sri Lanka’s salt production. Through innovation and collaboration, Sri Lanka can safeguard this vital industry, ensuring that it continues to meet the country’s demands despite the changing climate.
This is not just a story about salt—it is a testament to the resilience of an industry and its people in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Reference:
https://meteo.gov.lk/index.php?lang=en
https://www.ft.lk/columns/Climate-resilience–Critical-need-for-Sri-Lankan-salt-industry/4-770934
