Sri Lanka, Oct. 14 -- The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to allow rice importers to import up to 520 metric tons of Ponni Samba rice per importer without permits, as an alternative to Keeri Samba, which is reported to be in short supply in the local market.

Cabinet Spokesman Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that according to the Household Income and Expenditure Survey Report of the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka's estimated annual rice consumption is 2,460,000 MT while of that the annual Keeri Samba rice consumption is around 10% or 246,000 MT.

Considering the existing shortage of Keeri Samba in the local market and the sale of Keeri Samba above the stipulated control price, the ministers of agriculture and trade ha...