Nov 26, Colombo: The first batch of Ambul (sour) bananas to be exported from Sri Lanka to the foreign market is planned to be exported to Dubai today (26).

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said the sour bananas cultivated in 500 acres in Rajanganaya area will be exported to the foreign market for the first time under the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project which is being implemented with the foreign funds of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The minister said this while addressing a program held at Development Interplan Ceylon (DICL) Ltd. on Vauxhall Street, Colombo Friday (25) for the export of sour bananas from Rajanganaya.

Arrangements have been made to export 12,500 kg of sour bananas as the first batch to be exported to Dubai. Accordingly, arrangements have been made to weekly export Sri Lankan sour bananas to the Dubai market on every Saturday from now on.

Dr. Rohan Wijekoon, Director of the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project (ASMP), said that an income of $10,000 per week will be provided to the country by the weekly exports of sour bananas.

Participating in this event, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera said that this program started by the Agricultural Modernization Project of the Ministry of Agriculture with the aim of earning foreign exchange at a time when our country is facing a dollar crisis, is an opportunity to bring the name of Sri Lanka to international fame.

The Minister also mentioned that it is a victory for us to be able to send the sour bananas grown in our country’s soil to the international market today at a time when there are people who criticize everything in our country.

The Minister said that in the future, our country’s agriculture can earn high income and our agricultural products can win the international market only by introducing modern agricultural technology, equipment and market to the farmers.

The Minister also expressed his gratitude to Dr. Rohan Wijekoon, Director of the ASMP, who is taking the lead in this regard.

On this occasion, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe, ASMP Project Agronomist Dr. Julian and Dr. Han also participated.