Over 2.8 Million Laying Hens Perish in Floods

 The All Ceylon Egg Traders' Association emphasizes that no animals that died due to the disaster situation in the country have been released to the market for meat. Mr. Anton Nishantha Appuhamy, the president of the association, stated at a press conference yesterday (07) that rumors circulating in society about deceased animals being added to the market are completely false.

He revealed that over 2.8 million egg-laying hens have died due to the floods and disaster situation.

The president also pointed out that due to this sudden animal loss, the price of an egg, which could have been provided to consumers for Rs. 26-27, has now risen to Rs. 45-50.

Although the flood situation affected many parts of the island, animal farms in the Deduru Oya and Mahaweli Valley areas suffered severe damage. Mr. Appuhamy stated that due to the overflowing of the Deduru Oya, many animal farms up to Chilaw have been completely submerged and destroyed, with some locations where farms once stood now unrecognizable.

The president regretfully stated that with the upcoming Christmas season and the anticipated increase in demand for eggs, there is a risk of a massive egg crisis in the country. He further confirmed that since it was only possible to reach the deceased animals trapped by the floods several days later, those animals had already spoiled, and therefore there is no possibility of them entering the market as meat.