• To avert a possible rice shortage in the future and to curb the abnormal rise in rice prices

By Yohan Perera   

The Government has decided to import 50,000 metric tons of rice under the Indian loan assistance program, the Prime Minister’s office said yesterday.   

The decision to import rice from India was made during a discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office to allocate necessary funds for this purpose to the State Trading Corporation under the Indian Loan Assistance Programme. 

 This is expected to avert a possible rice shortage in the future and to curb the abnormal rise in rice prices. Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Nalin Fernando, Parliamentarian Nimal Lansa, Former Minister Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake and other public and private sector officials were present at the discussion on the Indian loan assistance programme held at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday .