General
China’s US$74 rice grant to reach Sri Lanka by end June
ECONOMYNEXT – China’s embassy in Sri Lanka said the first two shipments of a 500 million yuan (74 million US dollar) grant of rice will reach the island’s shores on June 25 and June 30.
China will send the rice through six shipments, the embassy said in a twitter.com message.
Around 10,000 metric tonnes will be used for a School Meals program for needy kids.
Sri Lanka’s main Maha harvest was around 40 percent below target following a ban on chemical fertilizer and the current minor season has also been hit by fertilizer shortages and diesel for agricultural equipment.
6 batches of rice have been scheduled in 🇨🇳 #China‘s 500 million RMB grant to #SriLanka, with the 1st & 2nd batch to arrive at Colombo port on 25th & 30th June.
10,000 MT rice for the most needy kids under the “School Meal Program” across 🇱🇰#posonpoya ☸️#love & #compassion pic.twitter.com/RUXXKWq4jQ
— Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka (@ChinaEmbSL) June 14, 2022
In January, then Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana said, Sri Lanka had sought the million tonnes of rice as a gift as a way mark a rubber-rice barter agreement between the People’s Republic and Ceylon which ran from 1953 to 1982. (Colombo/ June 14/2022)
