Sri Lanka, Nov. 16 -- Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation have rejected claims by a local NGO that 130 metric tonnes of Indian rice donated for low-income families have been languishing at the Colombo Port for months due to Government inaction.

They said the consignment could not be released because the organisation had failed to meet the mandatory food-safety and import-control requirements.

A spokesman for the Ministry said all food entering the country including donations and humanitarian consignments must comply with Sri Lanka's import legislation, which requires clearance from multiple agencies, including the Health Ministry, the Consumer Affairs Authority and the Agriculture Department.

Regul...