Colombo, July 7 (newsin.asia) – Sri Lanka will import 200,000 metric tonnes of rice immediately from Pakistan, Myanmar and India to meet a rice shortfall in its domestic market, a statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said here Friday.
Sri Lanka will also purchase another 100,000 metric tonnes of rice from India immediately. Bathiudeen said the rice will be purchased from private Indian importers and tenders are currently being received for this.
An Indian supplier is expected to be picked by July 17.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has also commenced government level talks on the possibility of purchasing rice from Thailand, Bathiudeen said.
These talks are conducted to procure rice stocks for any future emergencies and not for immediate use.
A Sri Lankan team will visit Bangkok next week to meet Thai officials and decide on varieties, possibly around 100,000 metric tonnes of rice.