Hormuz closure threatens SL’s food security By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s):Sri Lanka is facing a critical fertiliser crisis, as well as food and commodity import issues due to the Gulf conflict and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has triggered severe shipment disruptions and rapid price spikes for essential agricultural inputs and food imports. Sri Lanka could be among the worst hit in disruption to fertiliser supplies from the US – Israeli war on Iran, a UN agency report showed. Global urea prices have jumped from roughly US$ 470 to over $ 584 per tonne in early March 2026, with some markets seeing spikes up to $ 720 per tonne. These imports make Sri Lanka highly sensitive to global food price fluctuations.

Source: Sunday Times March 21, 2026 19:30 UTC