The deadline for the period during which permission was granted for the import of rice by the private sector expired at midnight yesterday (10).
As of last afternoon, a total of 149,000 metric tons of rice had been imported into the country. The government had granted special permission for importers to address the shortage of Nadu Rice and Kekulu Rice in the local market.
Since permission was granted on December 4, the total quantity of imported rice cleared by Sri Lanka Customs has reached 149,000 metric tons. This includes 55,000 metric tons of Kekulu Rice and 94,000 metric tons of Nadu Rice.
Meanwhile, another consignment of rice imported by the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation is scheduled to arrive in the country, and special permission will be required to clear this shipment, according to Seevali Arukgoda, Additional Director General of Sri Lanka Customs and Customs Media Spokesperson.