Sri Lanka may need to import approximately 334,000 metric tons of rice this year due to a significantly reduced paddy harvest, according to Professor Buddhi Marambe of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya.
Speaking to Lankadeepa on Sunday, Professor Marambe said the figure represents a doubling of the volume of rice imported between December 4, 2024, and January 10, 2025—when rice was allowed to be brought in without import licenses, totaling 167,000 metric tons. His comments followed a recent statement by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who noted that Sri Lanka would have to import rice this year to meet national demand.
The professor explained that the expected paddy harvest for the 2024/25 Maha season is approximately 2.9 million metric tons. However, forecasts from the Department of Agriculture suggest that unfavorable weather conditions, including heavy rains, could reduce this yield by 350,000 to 500,000 metric tons. As a result, this Maha season, running from October 2024 to March 2025, may produce the lowest harvest since 2019—excluding the crisis year of 2022.
Professor Marambe urged the government to exercise caution when issuing permits for rice imports. “Imports should be carefully managed and not allowed to flood the market all at once,” he said. “It would be wise to distribute imports across several phases—specifically in May-June, September-October, and December.”
He further emphasized that importing rice without proper planning could hurt local farmers and disrupt market stability. “Using an import permit system and strategic timing can help ensure both food security and the protection of the domestic agriculture sector,” he added.
