Japan may export rice to Sri Lanka
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
TOKYO, June 2 (AFP): Japan is mulling a request from Sri Lanka to export up to 200,000 tonnes of its imported rice supplies to help Colombo ease acute food shortages, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Monday.
"We are considering their request", said the official, who declined to be named.
"It is still unknown in what form we can provide foreign rice, for example, as grant in aid or by selling it at reasonable prices," the official said.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda are scheduled to visit Rome this week to attend a high-level meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
"Although no contact between the two sides is scheduled, we don't rule out the possibility," the official said.
The World Bank said last week it was considering giving Sri Lanka a crisis loan to tackle galloping food prices as the island battles 30 per cent inflation and over three decades of separatist war with Tamil Tiger rebels.
"We are considering their request", said the official, who declined to be named.
"It is still unknown in what form we can provide foreign rice, for example, as grant in aid or by selling it at reasonable prices," the official said.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda are scheduled to visit Rome this week to attend a high-level meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
"Although no contact between the two sides is scheduled, we don't rule out the possibility," the official said.
The World Bank said last week it was considering giving Sri Lanka a crisis loan to tackle galloping food prices as the island battles 30 per cent inflation and over three decades of separatist war with Tamil Tiger rebels.