Saturday, 21 June 2014 00:00
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The Government has decided to import 100,000 metric tons of rice to control the escalating price of Sri Lankans’ staple food.
The import of rice is to be carried out immediately and the stocks will be distributed through islandwide supermarkets of Lanka Sathosa, the State-owned wholesale and retail grocery network under the instructions of Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando.
The Minister said that the Consumer Affairs Authority had received a number of complaints against the rice mill owners and wholesalers over hiding processed and unprocessed rice stocks.
The Minister said that stern action was underway against them.
Sri Lanka provides subsidies to rice farmers and the country is usually self-sufficient in rice. However, the recent prolonged drought and subsequent floods have damaged the crops, the Minister stated.
