Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2013-01-17

Importation of Dairy Animals - Stage II

- it is intended to develop 3 farms belonging to the National Livestock Development Board at Bopaththalawa, Nikaweratiya and Siringapatha with 4500 upgraded dairy animals for a total cost of US$ 28,537,185.66. An agreement has also been signed for the supply of 2000 cattle under Stage I of the project and the 1st batch of 500 cows has already arrived and they are housed at the Bopaththalawa farm. The balance of 1500 cows is scheduled to arrive in the country shortly. With the view to accelerating local milk production the remaining 2500 cows are to be imported during 2013. The proposal made by Hon. Armugan Thondaman, Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development, to appoint a Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee and a Technical Evaluation Committee to proceed with the project, was approved by the Cabinet.