COLOMBO, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Food Policy and Security Committee suggested that the country should import rice shortly to ensure an uninterrupted supply for consumers, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Wednesday.

The PMD said in a statement that rice prices have been increasing and there have been reports that certain rice varieties are in short supply in the market, despite the current harvest season.

The committee was convened to discuss the need for the cabinet to prioritize the maintenance of sufficient stock levels through rice imports.

During the discussions, it was revealed that crops were damaged twice this year due to excessive rainfall, which has led to a significant reduction in the expected harvest, the PMD said.

Improper use of rice for animal feed is another major reason for the rice shortage, and the committee focused on importing broken rice for animal feed and the use of alternative feed to mitigate the impact on livestock production, the PMD said.

The committee also approved the formation of another body led by the director general of agriculture to oversee the importation of broken rice, the PMD said. Enditem

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