The Government has drawn up short and long term plans to increase sugar production. Sri Lanka currently produces only 5 percent of its sugar requirement and spends more than 35 billion rupees a year to import sugar.
Minister of Minor Exports Crop Promotion, Reginald Cooray said that attention of his Ministry has been focused in opening small industries which could produce between 100 to 500 metric tons of sugar instead of large scale factories. He said that it has also been planned to cultivate sugar cane in the Northern Province. Research has been conducted in Kilinochchi and some other areas in this regard. When the reports are found to be positive, steps will be taken to open up sugar farms in these areas and assist the cultivators in establishing small scale sugar manufacturing units.