COLOMBO, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has granted approval to import 50,000 tons of rice to increase competitiveness in the local market, the government's information department said on Tuesday.
The department said in a statement that the decision was taken in keeping with the recommendation of the food policy committee to control the rice price.
The department said the cabinet also approved a proposal to import and process selected spices to be re-exported in the form of oil extraction, oleoresin and residue to expand their market needs.
The government approved a proposal to purchase 15,000 tons of maize from registered foreign suppliers, as there is a shortage of raw materials required for the production of poultry feed due to insufficient stocks of maize in the open market, according to the department. ■
