Sri Lanka Approves Rice Imports to Address Projected Shortage

The Sri Lankan Cabinet has granted approval for the import of alternative rice varieties to address an anticipated shortage of Samba and Keeri Samba rice in the domestic market. This decision follows projections by the Department of Agriculture, the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, and the National Post-Harvest Management Institute, indicating that the 2025/26 Maha season production will be insufficient to meet demand, potentially leading to an acute shortage from May 2026. A gazette notification has been issued, allowing for the import of a maximum of 1,040 metric tons of rice, including Ponni Samba and Keeri/Paal Ponni varieties, also known as GR 11. Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced on March 31 that any importer can bring in these rice varieties between April 1 and April 30. The Consumer Affairs Authority and the Food Policy and Security Committee had also highlighted the necessity of these imports to maintain a stable market supply.