December 26, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Customs has announced the resumption of the clearance process for imported rice, which had been temporarily halted.
The clearance will recommence today (26), allowing businesses that imported rice to begin clearing their shipments once again.
Sivali Arukgoda, the Additional Director General and spokesperson for Sri Lanka Customs, confirmed that rice shipments, which had been delayed, can now be processed and released into the market.
This decision follows a brief suspension aimed at addressing concerns related to rice imports.
To mitigate the ongoing rice shortage in the country, the government permitted private-sector rice importers to bring in rice shipments between December 4 and December 20, 2024.
During this period, approximately 67,000 metric tons of rice were successfully imported into Sri Lanka.
In response to the continued demand for rice, the Cabinet recently extended the rice importation window until January 10, 2025, with the formal Gazette notification being issued on December 24.
With this extension, Sri Lanka Customs is now able to fully resume clearing the imported rice stocks, ensuring that the market supply improves in the coming weeks.
This step is expected to help stabilise prices and address the supply shortages experienced by consumers.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, provided an update on the government’s rice importation efforts, revealing that that the first shipment of 780 metric tons of rice, imported through the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation, was expected to arrive at the Colombo Port on December 25.
The Deputy Minister assured the public that the government would expedite the distribution of this rice to ensure it reaches the market without delay.
