The deadline for the special permission granted to the private sector for rice imports expired at midnight on 10 January.

During this period, a total of 167,000 MT of rice was imported into the country to address the shortage of Nadu and Kekulu Rice in the local market.

Since the government’s approval on 4 December, Sri Lanka Customs reported that the imports included 66,000 metric tons of Raw Rice and 101,000 MT of Nadu Rice.

Additionally, a consignment of rice imported by the Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation is expected to arrive soon. Clearing this shipment will require further special approval, said Seevali Arukgoda, Additional Director General of Customs and Media Spokesperson.