• Why is Nakiyadeniya palm oil mill certified?
  • The momentous recognition makes the mill the first palm oil mill in South Asia and Sri Lanka to be certified with this coveted accreditation. The certification also strengthens Nakiyadeniya Palm Oil Mill¡¯s leadership as the largest certified CPO and kernel oil producer in the country.
  • What are some criticisms of palm oil mills in Sri Lanka?
  • Some of the specific criticisms include groundwater depletion, water quality degradation, regeneration, siltation, floods, landslides, and palm oil mill effluent handling. These issues directly affect the surrounding communities and ecosystems. In Sri Lanka, RPCs were allowed to cultivate oil palms in marginal rubber lands.
  • Is palm oil a good investment in Sri Lanka?
  • Certainly, the study demonstrates that the palm oil industry in Sri Lanka currently saves approximately USD 17 million annually in foreign exchange outflows and meets around 6% of the domestic edible oil demand. Moreover, it generates employment for over 33,000 individuals and attracts a capital investment of LKR 23 billion.
  • What is the land allocation for oil palm plantations?
  • Land allocation for oil palm plantations is less than 3% of the total for all plantation crops including tea, rubber and coconut. Oil palms can also only be grown in existing plantations where the cultivation of traditional crops is no longer viable due to soil conditions or disease.