Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development
The Minister tabled a written answer on rice imports, stating that 49,621.6 metric tons were imported by the private sector during the queried period, while no government imports occurred in that overall period. He further stated that from 21 September 2024 to 26 February 2025 the Government imported 10,400 metric tons and the private sector 180,653.5 metric tons, with imports used as a temporary measure in late 2024 due to lack of buffer stocks, market concentration, reduced production, weather impacts, and diversion of rice to other uses. The response also cited controlled consumer prices under Gazette No. 2414/04 of 9 December 2024 and listed applicable duties and levies on imported rice categories.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, I table the answer.
¶ 02 Answer tabled:
¶ 03 (a)(i) According to Sri Lanka Customs records, 49,621.6 metric tons of rice were imported during the said period.
¶ 04 (ii) The Government did not import rice during that overall period; the private sector imported 49,621.6 metric tons.
¶ 05 (iii) Yes.
¶ 06 (iv) From 21.09.2024 to 26.02.2025, according to Customs, the Government imported 10,400.0 metric tons and the private sector imported 180,653.5 metric tons.
¶ 07 (v) As a temporary measure in the last quarter of 2024 due to: absence of a government paddy/rice buffer stock; market dominance by large millers and intermediaries creating quasi-monopolistic behaviour; reduced yields/production; weather changes; and diversion of rice for other uses.
¶ 08 (vi) Import prices varied by importer and supplier (varieties such as Nadu, Samba, Basmati etc. at different prices). A single uniform import price cannot be stated.
¶ 09 (vii) A uniform release price to the market cannot be practically specified due to multiple varieties, suppliers and wholesale trading layers before retail release.
¶ 10 (viii) Consumer prices are subject to Gazette No. 2414/04 of 09.12.2024: - Keeri (raw) rice: Rs. 210 per kg - Nadu rice: Rs. 220 per kg - Samba rice: Rs. 230 per kg
¶ 11 (ix) For imported chicken (raw) and parboiled rice: Special Commodity Levy of Rs. 65 per kg. For Basmati rice, applicable rates: - Customs Import Duty (CID): Rs. 80 per kg or 20% - VAT: 18% - Port and Airport Development Levy (PAL): 10% - CESS: Rs. 40 per kg or 10% - Social Security Contribution Levy (SSCL): 2.5%
¶ 12 (b) Not applicable.
Provenance
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- Hansard, Thursday, 6 March 2025 ·No. 1742798688089503 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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Cite as: Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe - Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 6 March 2025. No. 1742798688089503. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/25367