Sri Lanka, Oct. 15 -- The Cabinet has approved the import of GR/11 Ponni Samba rice as a solution to the current shortage of Keeri Samba rice in the local market.

Effective from today (15), imports will be capped at a maximum of 520 metric tons (MT) per importer for a period of one month.

The decision addresses the shortage of Keeri Samba rice and the fact that it is being sold above the regulated price in the local market.

According to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey report by the Department of Census and Statistics, the estimated annual rice consumption in Sri Lanka is 2,460,000 MT. Annual Keeri Samba consumption is approximately 10%, or about 246,000 MT.

To serve as a substitute for Keeri Samba, the import of GR 11/Ponn...