The cabinet has given approval to purchase the rice stock from Bangladesh on a Government to Government basis.

The import of rice is to be carried out immediately and the stocks will be distributed through island wide supermarkets of Lanka Sathosa, the state-owned wholesale and retail grocery network at an affordable price.

Sri Lanka's rice harvest has been hit by the prolonged drought in the rice growing districts of Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Moneragala, Ampara and Vavuniya. The drought in the 2014 Maha season seriously damaged the rice production and is threatening to significantly limit the upcoming Yala harvest.(ST/KH)