President sets price ceiling for imported rice, instructs to expedite drought relief

Monday, 23 January 2017 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

IN-1

President Maithripala Sirisena has set a price ceiling on imported rice at Rs. 76 per kilogram emphasizing that private traders and rice mill owners cannot be permitted to increase prices as they want and burden the people already distressed by the drought.

President Sirisena Friday held a meeting with the special Presidential Task Force appointed to grant relief to the people in the face of the drought and implement the Government plans at the President’s Office.

Short term and long term programs of the government to face the prevailing severe drought were discussed at length at the meeting.

The President issued instructions to the Finance Secretary to provide the financial grants required to sort out issues at the District level. He instructed the officials on releasing water for cultivations after saving water for drinking purposes, supplying bowsers to distribute drinking water to the people and directed officials to expeditiously provide water pumps and water tanks to the Districts concerned.

Ministers Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Rajitha Senaratne, Susil Premajayantha Rauff Hakeem, PA. Harrison, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Duminda Dissanayake, Gayantha, Karunathilake, and Rishad Bathiudeen, all the provincial chief ministers, Secretary to President PB Abeykoon, Ministry Secretaries and other officials attended the meeting.