Sri Lanka, Feb. 6 -- The Lanka Salt Company in Hambantota has announced a temporary increase in salt prices, citing rising costs of imported salt as the primary reason.

The price of a 400-gram packet of salt powder has risen by Rs. 20, from Rs. 100 to Rs. 120, while a one-kilogram packet of crystal salt now costs Rs. 180, up by Rs. 60 from its previous price of Rs. 120. However, the company assured that this adjustment is only temporary.

Sri Lanka's annual salt demand is around 20,000 metric tons, but adverse weather conditions in the last quarter of 2023 led to reduced local production. To address the shortage, the government approved the temporary importation of 12,000 metric tons of salt from India.

Despite this measure, the State T...