December 12, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has begun receiving stocks of rice from private importers, marking the first step towards addressing the ongoing rice shortage that has affected local markets.
The initial shipment, which arrived in the country on yesterday (11), has been cleared by Customs and released into circulation.
Earlier this month (03), the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to allow rice imports without the usual import control permits, in a bid to alleviate the shortage of various rice varieties across the country.
This decision will remain in effect until December 20, 2024.
As a result, importers have started bringing in rice, with the first batch of 75,000 kilograms officially released from Customs on Wednesday.
The shipment includes Samba and White Raw rice, which have been sourced from India.
Representatives from the Essential Food Commodities Importers & Traders Association have confirmed that further rice shipments are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka over the next few days, with additional consignments anticipated today (12) and tomorrow (13).
Lanka Sathosa Chairman, Dr. Samitha Perera, has assured the public that the rice shortage will be addressed as more imported stocks enter the market. He expressed confidence that the arrival of these imported supplies would help stabilise the local rice market.
However, local entrepreneurs are still facing challenges in securing rice supplies. Business owner Chandralal Gunasekera, who also appeared on the programme, highlighted the difficulties his shops have been experiencing in obtaining sufficient rice for sale.
This continues to be a pressing issue for retailers, who are grappling with the tight supply in the face of soaring demand.
