RETURN OF THE OIL PALM

A 20-YEAR DEBATE REOPENS SRI LANKA’S BATTLE BETWEEN PROFIT AND ECOLOGY

- Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama

For nearly two decades, Sri Lanka's oil palm debate has resurfaced in cycles — often driven by economic arguments, plantation interests and changing agricultural priorities. But environmentalists argue that the current discussion over reintroducing oil palm cultivation is no longer simply about a crop.

They say it has become a broader question of whether the country is prepared to trade forests, biodiversity and traditional plantation systems for a controversial industry with uncertain long-term gains.

According to Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) President Hemantha Withanage, the present controversy is merely the latest chapter of a long-running issue that stretches back almost 20 years.

Although oil palm was first introduced to Sri Lanka nearly six decades ago, the initial cultivation at Nakiyadeniya in Galle did not emerge as a significant success. However, interest in the crop began to intensify over the last decade as plantation sector groups explored alternatives to declining rubber yields and sought new commercial opportunities.

Environmental groups claim that several plantation interests pushed for large-scale expansion of oil palm cultivation in districts including Mathugama, Kalutara, Ratnapura and Kegalle. Requests had reportedly been made to permit cultivation across nearly 20,000 hectares.

However, mounting environmental concerns eventually prompted regulatory intervention.