News
Move to import 50,000 tonnes of rice
Cabinet approval has been sought to import 50,000 metric tonnes of rice to keep as buffer stock to overcome any shortfall occurring due to the severe drought.
Anticipating rice shortages in the market due to crop failures in the Yala and Maha seasons this year, the Ministry of Internal Trade had proposed the import of rice from India, Ministry Spokesperson Nipuna Ekanayake said.
He said the ministry planned to import the stocks to avert any artificial price hike or shortage caused by hoarding of stocks by unscrupulous market players.
This year’s paddy harvest was severely affected by the prolonged drought in the North Central and Eastern Provinces. The special commodity levy imposed on rice was reduced to Rs. 5 in April this year due to severe rice shortage in the market. The reduced levy will continue for five more months to manage market prices.
Meanwhile, prices of several other essential food items will change due to changes in the special commodity levy imposed on them. The tax on potato imports has been increased to Rs. 25 while the levy on imported grains has been reduced. Accordingly, the tax on Masoor dhal has been reduced by
Rs. 3, cowpea by Rs. 30, green gram by Rs.32 and grams by Rs. 5.