Importers ask for US $ 175-200Mn monthly for essential food items

Ahead of the festive season, the importers of essential food commodities have sought a meeting with Secretary to the President Gamini Senarath to make sure that US $ 175-200 million is released every month to avert a shortage.

A spokesman for the Essential Food Commodities Importers’ and Traders’ Association Nihal Seneviratne told Daily Mirror US dollars had not yet been released to pay for nearly 1,500 containers of various products stuck at the port.

Asserting that there is no shortage of essential items at the moment, he said foreign exchange should be made available for payment to their suppliers abroad as otherwise it would drain their confidence in trading with Sri Lankan partners.

“We have to restore this confidence,” he said.

Sri Lanka currently imports food items such as dhal, wheat flour, dhal, sugar and rice.

Rice imports were permitted following the possible shortage in local supply over the lack of chemical fertiliser for cultivation in the season. State Minister of Mahaweli Development Siripala Gamlath said there would be a crop reduction of 20-25 per cent in the major cultivation areas according to his observation.

“Harvesting is yet to be done in most areas. Crop reduction will not be as big as it is portrayed. It will be around 20-25 per cent. However, it is a significant loss,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)