Rice imports to end, Finance Ministry officials inform COPF

• Officials of the Agriculture Ministry inform the committee that the mix up of data pertaining to available stocks of paddy had taken place due to a communication error

By Yohan Perera  

Rice importation is no longer necessary as adequate stocks are expected from the Maha harvest which is shortly due, officials of Finance Ministry had informed Committee on Public Finance (COPF), a statement from Parliament communication unit said yesterday.   

The Finance Ministry officials have come up with this information when COPF Chairman Harsha de Silva inquired at the committee meeting as to why outdated gazettes were presented to the committee for its approval. Dr. de Silva had told the committee that the gazette notification issued under the Import Export (Controls) Act 1 of 1969 under which provisions were provided to import rice up to January 10 2025 and the gazette notification which made provisions to remove restriction of motor vehicle importation are both outdated. “Outdated gazette notifications should not be presented to the committee,” Dr. de Silva has said while highlighting the importance of presenting notifications which are pertaining to the future.    

The officials of the Agriculture Ministry has informed the committee that the mix up of data pertaining to available stocks of paddy had taken place due to a communication error. It was reported earlier that that wrong information on the available stocks of rice was communicated to COPF during the previous meeting. Dr. De Silva has adviced the officials to be more vigilant when preparing and presenting data to parliamentary committees.   

He stressed the need for a programme to ensure effective use of Rs 5 billion which is to be allocated for the Paddy Marketing Board for the purpose of purchasing paddy from farmers. Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe ensured that the paddy purchasing programme will be strictly monitored.   

Dr. de Silva has further informed the committee that the gazette notification pertaining to removing restrictions on easing the import of vehicles will be taken into discussion together with the other notification which is pertaining to the second phase of vehicle importation restriction removal that is to be issued next month.   

Meanwhile, it was revealed at the committee meeting that the Auditor General is to carry out investigations on 2000 state institutions in 2025. Accordingly, it was decided to appoint a subcommittee to look into these institutions. It was further decided to take up debate in Parliament after the subcommittee report is presented to Parliament.   

Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, MPs Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, Nimal Palihena, Wijesiri Basnayake and Lakmali Hemachandra participated in the meeting.