Sri Lanka, Dec. 4 -- Members of the Committee on Public Finance on Wednesday recommended that if the import ban on rice, which was imposed last April, is to be lifted again, it should be done only after a proper forecast of the forthcoming Yala season.

Finance Committee Chairman Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said that under the prevailing special circumstances, the local paddy farmer has to logically analyze the situation and make predictions in order to give a fair price for his harvest as well as to enable the consumer to consume quality rice at a reasonable price.

Replying to this, Imports and Exports Controller General revealed that according to the available data, the expected Yala harvest is likely to be only 2/3 as compared to last y...