The government is likely to lift the ban on Oil Palm cultivation, which was imposed by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, reports say.

Speaking to the media after a meeting with a collective of Oil Palm cultivators,  former minister Ravi Karunanayake has said that measures are underway to resume Oil Palm cultivation.

During the meeting, cultivators have pointed out to Mr. Karunanayake that the ban had affected the livelihood of many and that if they were allowed to resume Oil Palm cultivations, it would be possible to generate more foreign exchange revenue than the entire income from tea and rubber. They had said palm oil cultivation could generate more foreign exchange revenue than the entire income from tea and rubber, if they were allowed to cultivate the crop in their lands as well as in state owned lands.

According to them, an acre of Oil Palm cultivation can generate a monthly net income of Rs.75,000.