Colombo: The government has begun talks with China, Iran, and several African nations to export locally produced brown sugar as a type of organic sugar, Minister of Industries Sunil Handunnetti said.
He said there is strong global interest in natural sugar products, and Sri Lanka’s brown sugar has a high organic content, making it suitable for this growing market.
“We are also discussing with the Sugarcane Research Institute whether there is a way to mix white sugar and brown sugar and supply it to the local market,” he further added.
Minister Handunnetti was responding to a question from Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and explained that exporting brown sugar is one way the government hopes to increase income for local sugar factories.