Local ethanol quality gets false rap, says ex-State Minister

• Former State Minister Janaka Wakkumbura calls on Govt. to support local industry
• Says local ethanol producers have been supplying industry for decades with no issues  

By Darshana Abayasingha

Local arrack manufacturers are propagating rumours that locally-manufactured ethanol is of inferior quality after the Government banned imports of ethanol, charged former State Minister of Export Agriculture Janaka Wakkumbura.

The former MP stated the Sevanagala Sugar Corporation had sold over 90 million litres of ethanol to one arrack manufacturer and there had been no complaints of quality. However, soon after imports were banned and price of locally-manufactured ethanol went up from Rs. 290 to Rs. 500 a litre, arrack manufacturers have started questioning quality, he said. 

The Government has taken a firm decision to support local industries and it will not waiver from this commitment in the face of such opposition, Wakkumbura said. With the ban on ethanol imports from beginning of this year and the increase in price, sugar corporations have been able to pay a higher price to local sugar cane farmers in rural Sri Lanka, plus enhance its value chain extensively.

“We must not allow local industry and farmers to be compromised for the gain of a few businessmen,” he added. 

The former State Minister’s claims were supported by the Government Analyst recently, who noted that the quality of locally-manufactured ethanol was of the same standard as imported items. Any claims that the flavour, odour and colour of products have changed due to local ethanol is the responsibility of manufacturers and their production process, the former Minister and Government Analyst stated.  “Our local sugar corporations have manufactured ethanol for decades, and no one has ever said the products were inferior quality. This all began with the increasing of price. If we say we will sell at Rs. 290 a litre tomorrow, I am certain this question of quality will go away. The Government Analyst too has confirmed the standard is the same. If there is a problem, they must follow due process and scientifically show where and what the problems are. This has not taken place,” Wakkumbura said.

He added that the Government would not import ethanol as long as production capacity can be met here at home, and condemned this action to sabotage local industry with false claims. Sugar production will not be compromised in any manner due to ethanol production at the three factories, he also said.