The Trade Ministry is to issue a gazette notification next Monday (27) allowing for the importation of 10 essential food items through open accounts for two months.
Open account payments were banned earlier to curb unofficial transfers made through the Undiyal / Hawala settlement systems.
A Trade Ministry official said a decision was made to lift open account import restrictions for 10 essential food items following discussions chaired by the Prime Minister's Office between officials from the Ministry, the Central Bank and importers.
Chilis, potatoes, onions, rice, dhal and wheat flour are among essential food items which permission will be given to import through open account payments.
Cabinet has already approved the proposal to allow for the limited lifting of the restrictions, the official said.
A Sri Lanka Air Force Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the No. 72 squadron has crashed into the Madhuru Oya reservoir this morning, Air FOrce Media Spokesman Eranda Geeganage said.
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