COLOMBO, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved a proposal to import a maximum of 15,000 tons of cashew nuts in shell this year since local produce is not sufficient, the government's information department said on Tuesday.
The department, in its announcement of cabinet decisions taken at a meeting on Monday, said the country's annual requirement of cashew nuts in shell is around 25,000 tons, but only 12,500 tons can be procured locally.
The cashew industry in the country is facing a very unfortunate situation as the crop has not been harvested as expected in the last season, the department said.
According to the department, the cabinet approval has also been given to import a quantity determined by a committee consisting of senior officials of the relevant ministries during the period between December and April when the local cashew harvest is not available within the next four years. ■
