Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Tuesday, 3 December 2024 02:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday met with small and medium-scale rice mill owners to address pressing issues in the rice supply chain.
The discussion focused on ensuring an affordable and uninterrupted supply of rice to consumers during the coming months as concerns over shortages loom.
The President stressed the importance of strengthening storage facilities to prevent supply disruptions and explored immediate measures with mill owners to stabilise the market. Additionally, the declining availability of Nadu rice – a staple variety increasingly diverted for value added products – was highlighted as a critical issue.
President Dissanayake also proposed implementing a QR code system to streamline the distribution of fertiliser subsidies, ensuring targeted support for farmers.
The discussion comes amidst the Cabinet of Ministers last week approving the importation of 70,000 tons of Nadu rice to address the current market shortage. The imports sourced through competitive bidding, expected to arrive by 15 December, are slated to be sold at a controlled price of Rs. 220 per kilo to ensure affordability during the festive season.
As per Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, the distribution of the rice stock will be made through the two State-run enterprises – Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE), also known as Sathosa, and Sri Lanka State Trading (General) Corporation.
LakSathosa Chairman Dr. Samitha Perera, Ministry officials, and small and medium-scale rice mill owners attended the discussion.
