Sri Lanka Customs has announced that rice imports into the country are currently on hold until the issuance of a gazette notification permitting such imports.

The deadline given to the private sector to import rice expired on the 20th of this month, by which time 67,000 metric tons of rice had already been brought into the country. Although the gove ment recently announced an extension of the rice import period until January 10th next year, Customs clarified that no rice can be released to the local market without the publication of the required gazette notification.

Meanwhile, a stock of 52,000 metric tons of rice imported by the gove ment is expected to arrive in the coming days. However, gove ment sources indicated that the gazette notification allowing these imports will only be issued after the Cabinet meeting scheduled for today (23).

In a related development, the Maradagahamula Specialized Wholesale Trade Center, which had been closed due to a shortage of rice, is set to reopen today. Businessmen confirmed that the reopening follows the arrival of rice stocks imported with the private sector’s intervention.