New Zealand's Fonterra resumes operation in Sri Lanka

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra today said it has resumed operations in Sri Lanka after temporarily closing its plant over the safety of its employees.
Fonterra closed its local factory last week citing safety of its about 755 staff after it faced angry protests against its tainted milk products.
The dairy giant was facing two court cases, challenging the safety of its products.
"I am now confident that our people are safe and the business is ready to resume operations and continue selling high quality dairy nutrition to Sri Lankan people," Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings said in a statement.

The state-run laboratory Industrial Technological Institute (ITI) had earlier said two batches of Fonterra products had traces of a farm chemical, a claim disputed by Fonterra. However, the company recalled its products earlier this month on government orders.
On Friday, a court in Gampaha lifted a ban on the sale of Fonterra products and the ITI said new shipments of milk were free of any contaminants.
Sri Lanka imported milk and milk products worth USD 307 million in 2012 with the bulk coming from New Zealand and Australia.