China to gift one million metric tons of rice to Sri Lanka

The Chinese government is to donate one million metric tons of rice to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture to coincide with the 70^th anniversary of the Ceylon -China-Rubber Rice Pact signed in 1952.

This decision was conveyed by the Chinese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Finance Ministry sources said.    

Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardena has made a request from China for some relief at a time when the country is facing a severe rice shortage as a result of the sudden implementation of the green farming policy banning chemical fertiliser.

Sri Lanka’s annual requirement of rice is in the region of 2.4 million metric tons and the Chinese donation of rice is sufficient to meet five months of total demand in the country, a senior official of the Trade Ministry said.

R.G. Senanayake, the then Minister of Trade and Commerce played a key role in negotiating this Ceylon –China Rubber Rice agreement, and make it a reality.

In the early 1950s, Sri Lanka suffered a severe economic setback from an economic crisis due to a lack of foreign exchange at that time which created a shortage of rice and reduced exports of commodities added with political upheaval.

In 1957, Sri Lanka China relations was further strengthened with the country’s opening its first diplomatic mission in Beijing China. Wilmot Perera was the first Sri Lankan Ambassador to China.

In February this year, Sri Lanka and China will be celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations, official sources said. (Bandula)