Responding to a question raised by UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana, the Deputy Minister said that saline had not been manufactured in Sri Lanka.

Minister Dissanayake said: “The government had invited investors for the purpose of producing saline. The investors had been confronted with the problem that in case their production exceeding the local requirement they would have to sell their surplus in foreign market of which the competition was high.”

The government had received several investment proposals but the problem of sending the surplus abroad still remained, the deputy minister added. (Special Reporter/HC)