Under Mahinda Rajapaksa government:

'Lanka self-sufficient in rice'

'For the first time since Independence, Sri Lanka has become self sufficient in rice under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

'This is because the government has taken steps to ensure food security in the country, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

'While ensuring food security as a country the government also endeavoured to ensure food security of the family and the individual, the minister said.

Minister Rajapaksa said so at a ceremony held at his ministry to mark the donation of a stock of rice and other cereals worth Rs 274.97 million (2180928.08 US dollars) to Sri Lanka by Brazil yesterday.

The Minister said the donation was accepted after prolonged discussions as to why the country should receive any more rice when it was already self- sufficient in the commodity. However, it was later decided to accept the donation as a gesture of goodwill and gratitude for longstanding friendly relations between the two countries.

The minister also recalled that the World Food Programme had always come to Sri Lanka's assistance in times of need in the past.

Brazilian ambassador Henrique Lopes Borio said Sri Lanka had attained remarkable economic and livelihood development and social welfare standards within a short time after ending terrorism in the country.

Sri Lanka had been able to restore normalcy in conflict affected arrears because it had utilized humanitarian aid received from Brazil, WFP and other countries after the return of peace pragmatically.

A ministry statement said the rice received from Brazil would be utilized for the school mid day meal programme and meet the requirement of beneficiaries in re-settled areas and in welfare camps.

World Food Programme representative in Sri Lanka Adnan Khan was also present.