July 27, Colombo: Sri Lankan agricultural authorities say that the per capita rice consumption has gone up by 15% in recent times.

Director General of Agriculture Kamal N. Mankotte says that the rice consumption per person has increased from 100 kilos per annum to 115 kilos per annum.

Meanwhile the per capita wheat flour consumption of Sri Lanka is 30 to 40 kilos per annum, the official says.

Wheat flour consumption is still high among the Upcountry Tamil plantation workers. Malnutrition is also high among this community that lives in estate line houses amidst lower living standards and low income.

Most of the plantation residents are agricultural workers who do not possess their own land. Therefore, they do not engage in paddy cultivation like other communities in rural areas. Their staple food is mostly wheat flour bread for generations.