The international rice tender recently floated by Sri Lanka for global procurement will close at 2pm on 31 October. Meanwhile, 17000 MT of parboiled rice from India is already in the local marketplace, now sold via Lanka Sathosa outlets at only Rs 74 per kilo.
“We are making every effort to ensure that there will be no shortages for the consumer” said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen during his discussions with his top officials at the Ministry earlier.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka floated this international tender on 19 October for a 200,000 MT rice tranche consisting of 90,000MT of Parboiled Nadu rice, 60,000MT of Samba (Parboiled) rice, and 50,000 MT of White Raw rice. Along with global bidders, Sri Lankan rice importers too are eligible to take part in the latest tender. Of the 200,000 MT rice called for in the tender, Sri Lanka expects 100,000 MT to arrive in Colombo by end November 2017 and the other 100,000 MT to arrive by end of December 2017.
Meanwhile, 17000 MT of the 100,000 MT rice consignment ordered from an Indian private supplier have been received in Colombo in the last few days and cleared by Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) under Minister Bathiudeen by 30 October. This is part of the 70000 MT parboiled/nadu rice and 30000 MT samba rice ordered from the Indian private supplier. The rest 53000 MT of parboiled / nadu is expected to arrive in Colombo by mid-November. 30000 MT of 100,000 MT from India are samba rice, and this consignment is expected in Colombo between mid-November to end-November; With the addition of 100,000 MT tranche from the international tender that closes on 31 October (i.e 100,000 MT from international tender expected to arrive by end of November and another 100,000 MT by end of December), by end-November a huge 200,000 MT of imported rice, in many categories will be freely available in the local markets at low prices. Lanka Sathosa under Minister Bathiudeen sells the Indian nadu at Rs 74 per kilo and samba at present, at only Rs 80 per kilo.
Under the directions of the government’s Cost of Living Committee (CoLC) of Sri Lanka announced on 13 October Sri Lanka will import 500,000 MT rice to overcome domestic supply shortages as a result of fall in paddy supplies for three straight seasons. The aim of CoLC and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is to give the Lankan consumers with lowest prices and a steady supply.