Claim: The price of ‘Lak Lunu’ salt has risen to Rs.250 per kg under the present government.
Fact: Hambantota Lanka Salt Limited said that the price of its product, ‘Lak Lunu’ salt, has increased due to the import of salt, but it has not yet reached Rs. 250 per kg. The current price of 1kg of crystal salt is Rs.180.
Social media users have recently been circulating an image of a 1-kg packet of “Lak Lunu” salt, a popular product of Hambantota Lanka Salt Limited, claiming that the price has risen from Rs.110 before the 2022 revolution to Rs.250 currently. The image also included a photo of the current president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and a message in Sinhala that read, “You’ve been fooled by a little boy and you don’t even have salt in the end.”
We came across posts on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, seen here, here, and here.
Similarly, we noticed posts shared on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, showing only the back of the packet, with captions such as, “For 75 years, salt only went up from Rs.35 to Rs. 85😂, but after a revival, it jumped to Rs. 250”, “For 76 years, salt stayed at Rs.85, and in the 77th year, it was Rs.250”, and “Let’s celebrate the victory peacefully. A packet of salt costs Rs.250, a win for the revival 😂🤌.” These posts can be found here, here and here. None of these posts specify the type of salt or the quantity of the salt packet.
Fact Check/Verification
Newschecker ran a keyword search using terms such as “Salt price,” “Lak Lunu,” and “Lanka salt,” which led us to several news reports stating that salt prices in Sri Lanka had risen following the recent import of raw salt from India
News reports confirmed that D. Nandanthilaka, Chairman of Hambantota Lanka Salt Limited, stated that the decision to raise prices was due to the cost of imported salt from India. He explained that the price of a 400g packet of table salt has increased from Rs.100 to Rs.120, and the price of a 1kg packet of crystal salt has risen from Rs.120 to Rs.180. However, he clarified that this price hike is a temporary measure and believes the prices will return to their previous levels after March. The reports can be seen here, here, here and here.
We also looked into another claim related to the salt price hike, which stated that the price of salt was within Rs.85 for the past 76 years, and that this drastic change happened suddenly this year, after 77 years of independence, under the current government. Based on the Department of Census and Statistics report, we analysed the price of a 1-kg packet of salt during the second week of February over the past five years, using the “Open Market Weekly Average Retail Prices – Main Markets in Colombo District” report. The price of a 1-kg packet of salt over the last five years is shown below.
Based on the official reports, it is clear that the price of 1-kg of salt was not within Rs.85 in the five years prior to the current government, and the prices varied each year.
What Is The Reason For The Price Increase?
On December 18, 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Sri Lanka approved the import of up to 30,000 metric tonnes of non-iodized salt to prevent a potential shortage in the first quarter of 2025. The State Trading Corporation (STC) will manage the import, which will then be distributed to local salt manufacturers. This decision was made in response to a significant decline in domestic salt production due to adverse weather conditions affecting local manufacturing. In light of these challenges, private companies also submitted proposals to the government, requesting permission to import salt to address the anticipated shortage.
A discussion on the salt shortage was held with salt companies at the Ministry of Industries on February 3, 2025. After the meeting, representatives from the salt companies stated to the media that salt prices would rise due to the government’s import tax.
Conclusion
Social media posts claiming that the price of salt has risen to Rs250 per kg under the current government, accompanied by an image of ‘Lak Lunu’ salt, are false. Hambantota Lanka Salt Limited announced new prices for their products, clarifying that the price increase is due to the import of salt, but it has not yet reached Rs.250. Additionally, official reports confirm that the price of a 1-kg packet of salt was not within Rs.85 in previous years and the prices have varied each year.
Result: False
Our Sources
News report on themorning.lk, dated February 06, 2025
News report on DailyMirror.lk, dated February 03, 2025
News report on Adaderan.lk, dated February 06, 2025
News report on Newswire.lk, dated February 06, 2025
Reports by the Department of Census and Statistics on ‘Open Market Weekly Average Retail Prices in Main Markets of Colombo District‘ for the last five years.
Press Release on Cabinet Decisions from the Meeting Held on December 18, 2024
Video featuring statements from representatives of salt companies on the Voice Tube YouTube channel, dated February 3, 2025
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