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Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament yesterday (18) that not even one grain of rice unfit for human consumption will be allowed to be imported into the country. The Minister said that considering the recent shortage of rice in the market and the increase in rice prices, it was decided to import rice to ensure that it is freely available to consumers.
Accordingly, the Minister said that the first batch of rice imported by the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation (STC) will arrive in the country today (19). The Minister also said that four tenders have been opened under the STC for the import of rice only.
Minister Samarasinghe said this in response to a question, which required an oral reply, regarding rice imported into the country, from MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake. Expressing further views, Minister Samarasinghe said: “Three decisions were taken to ensure that the people do not face a shortage of rice in the market. The first decision was to import 70,000 metric tons of rice. Then, the Cabinet decided to temporarily remove the restrictions on rice imports as a solution to the rice shortage.
It was expected that between 25,000 to 30,000 metric tons of rice would be received through this decision to temporarily import rice. As of yesterday, nearly 12,000 metric tons of rice had arrived in the country. By the evening, nearly 12,000 metric tons had been released from the port. Sri Lankan mill owners had nearly 300,000 metric tons of rice. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake intervened and held three rounds of discussions with them. They have also increased the amount of rice released to the market daily, the Minister said.
After the private sector was given permission to import rice, they imported rice into the country through direct buyers. Regardless of which method the rice comes in, the rice containers are inspected at the port. There are three inspection points. Through this method, the rice container is inspected in three separate ways. Necessary facilities have been arranged to release a rice container in about four hours. We have discussed this with the Director of Customs. There is one private importer who has imported 75 containers of rice out of which three containers had weevils. We sent those three containers back. We will never import rice that is unfit for human consumption,” Minister Samarasinghe said.
Varuna Dayaratne
