Minister Bandula Gunawardene answers queries on the price of rice

Colombo (News 1st): Journalists questioned co-cabinet spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardana today (December 25) as to why the price of rice remains high even when a control price has been imposed. At a discussion held between large scale mill owners and state officials, it had been agreed to impose a control price of Rs. 98 per kg of Samba and Nadu rice in a bid to offset the rapid rise in price of rice. Speaking regarding this Minister Bandula Gunawardene expressed the following views.

"We have not received the fullest support in our attempt to reduce the price below Rs. 98. We have also received information that supply has been limited intentionally. The President will take steps to launch an operation along with the security forces, to discover stocks of rice which are hidden if rice is not supplied constantly. We believe the President will direct officials to raid the storages of mill owners and to take necessary legal action against them within the framework of the Consumer Affairs Authority. We will not have to instruct President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take legal action against those who go against agreements."