news The challenge of making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in milk Daily News (via HT Media Ltd.) In order to achieve President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s concept of ushering prosperity in the country, we can meet those needs ourselves without importing dairy products and animals. The history of importing cattle to Sri Lanka dates back to the Second World War. The cattle were brought to supply meat for the consumption of foreign soldiers. Cattle brought from Cape Town, South Africa were called “Keppa” cattle. Following the end of the war, nearly 200 such animals were left at the Race Course in Nuwara Eliya and the troops left. Prime Minister Mahamanya D.S. Senanayake ordered the cattle not to be killed and sent them to Bopaththalawa and Ambewela. Kikuyu grass imported from Africa was planted in those lowlands and those places were started as animal farms.