Central Bank agrees to provide dollars to release essential food
The Governor of the Central Bank has agreed to provide US $ 25 million for the release of imported essential food containers stranded at the port due to a shortage of dollars.
At the request of Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal has agreed to begin the release of $ 25 million from today (17).
During a discussion between Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena and essential food importers at the Ministry of Commerce yesterday, the Minister contacted the Governor of the Central Bank in order to make the arrangements to obtain US $ 25 million.
An importer who participated in the discussion said that the Minister had intervened and requested the Governor of the Central Bank to release the dollars and that the containers could be released if the dollars were received soon.
The importers further said that more than a thousand containers of essential food items including rice, lentils, sugar, potatoes and big onions are stuck in the Port of Colombo and if the dollars are released as soon as possible, the containers could be released.