The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has appealed for urgent funds to sustain its operations in Sri Lanka in the wake of the rapid surge in commodity prices. The price of staple food such as rice has doubled over the year in Sri Lanka and in some countries tripled; reducing the volume of the commodities WFP can procure within the allocated budget by almost 50 per cent, a WFP news release said. It said: Food shortages and price rises will mean cutting back on food assistance. WFP is awaiting 5,500 tons of rice and 110 tons of canned fish, valued at some US$ 4.6 million, contributed by the Japanese Government. The shipment will arrive in June. Japan's contribution will allow life-sustaining food assistance in the most food insecure areas for 2-3 months, feeding 300,000 internally displaced, returnees and economically affected people. "I am concerned about the plight of the vulnerable people as the pipeline break for essential commodities in WFP programmes is looming. Rice donated by Japan will be arriving soon and I am certain that Japan's food aid through WFP will continue to impact on the alleviation of the suffering of the destitute people. Japan is also looking into its food aid support in view of the current food price rise", said His Excellency, Mr. Kiyoshi Araki, the Ambassador of Japan.