Sri Lanka has opened talks with three countries to procure rice to stabilize its domestic markets.
“We are looking for par-boiled (Nadu) and Samba categories now,” said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.
Minister Bathiudeen, was addressing Ambassador Designate of Thailand to Sri Lanka Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Ambassador of Indonesia to Sri Lanka Gusti Ngurah Ardiyasa and Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, Dr. Sarfraz Ahmad Khan Sipra at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Secretary of Ministry of Industry and Commerce Chinthana Lokuhetti and Director General of Finance Ministry PMB Atapattu were also present.
“We are keen to procure rice for Sri Lanka from you through a Government to Government process, but are open for your private sectors’ support as well if necessary.
“The CWE will be the focal point for this effort and will be in contact with you continuously.
After one of you are picked as the supplier of this volume, based on a transparent international procurement process, our expert team consisting of my officials, food technologists, and rice experts will arrive in your country to inspect and certify the entire stock before it would be shipped to Colombo.
“We are looking for par-boiled (Nadu) and Samba categories at present. We can start with 300,000 MT. Even if Sri Lanka chooses one of you as the supplier and leaves the others, we still eagerly look forward to enhance bilateral trade with all of you in many other ways,” the Minister said.