COLOMBO, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has authorized Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited Company to import 18,000 metric tons of maize to produce a nutritional supplement given to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa announced at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Jayatissa told the media that the company needs 1,500 metric tons of maize per month to produce the nutritional supplement, which the government distributes free of charge.
He said there is a shortage of maize in the local market, which is why the government decided to import a year's supply.
