COLOMBO, 7 April, 2021 (TON): SL has imposed an immediate ban has been imposed on the import of palm oil, said an official on Tuesday.

The decision was taken by the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who also ordered the gradual removal of the crops, in a move to eliminate the environmentally harmful cultivations in the country.

On Monday, the President ordered his officials to promulgate laws preventing fresh imports of palm oil. 

"The objective of the President is to free the country of use of palm oil and eradicate palm cultivations from the country," the spokesperson said.

The move followed the complaints made by the villages that it caused environmental damages, including deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution.

Under a phased out plan of 2019 to stop palm cultivation, the President ordered the uprooting of 10 per cent of existing palm plantations annually, and that they be replaced by rubber or environmentally friendly crops.

However, no immediate reason was given for the ban and the decision was criticized and resisted by a section of industry that uses palm oil to manufacture bakery products, animal feed and soaps.