Dr. Harsha de Silva, Non Cabinet Minister of Economic Reforms and Public Distribution yesterday expressed his willingness to offer a suitable platform to create a meaningful dialogue among palm oil industry stakeholders, relevant government officials particularly in the Plantation Ministry, Treasury and also local university academics in an effort to find solutions to key issues faced by the stakeholders in the local palm oil industry.
Noting that existing issues faced by the industry cannot be answered in isolation, Minister de Silva stressed the need to bring different groups together to correct key issues faced by the industry.
“Sometimes, it is very difficult to take leadership in change because people who are currently profiting from the old system will be against it and they will be vociferous. But sometimes, people who have made profits will also not support you fully. They will be lukewarm. It is just human nature. We are not willing to take risks or leadership.” he told at the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Palm Oil Industry Association, held in Colombo yesterday.
Furthermore, he said there could be factual errors from both sides.
“We may not see it because we are only looking through one particular glass. I think you all should sit together and have everybody around the table to redress these issues in a proactive manner.”
I also don’t think everyone who brings down good quality palm oil, wants to pass it off as good quality coconut oil in the market. Sometimes, there may be some bad eggs, but as an industry association, it is your responsibility to identify and correct these types of activities.
If you want to be a part of the industry and help the industry and the country, then you will have to fall in line with set rules and regulations, he stressed.
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