No plans to import rice, as long as mill owners do not create an artificial shortage: Ministry of Trade

COLOMBO (News 1st): The government had no plans to import rice, as long as rice mill owners do not hoard stocks and create an artificial shortage, the Ministry of Trade said on Sunday (Sept. 27).  "If rice mill owners attempt to create an artificial shortage of rice in the local market, measures will be taken to import rice from overseas. Towards the last quarter of the year, there is a trend of creating an artificial rice shortage by various entities. If such a situation arises, the government is prepared," Badhrani Jayawardena, the Secretary to the Ministry of Trade said. Ministry Secretary Jayawardena pointed out that there are adequate rice stocks to last until March next year. She also emphasized that the government will NOT revise the stipulated prices of rice under any circumstances. According to the Secretary, the Consumer Affairs Authority is continuously conducting raids to determine whether there are adequate stocks of rice in the market under the stipulated prices. Meanwhile, operations are also underway to arrest traders who sell rice above the stipulated maximum retail prices. According to authorities, 44 such traders were identified during raids in the past few days. A maximum retail price of Rs. 96 per kilo of Nadu rice and Rs. 98 per kilo of Samba rice was set by the government, the Consumer Affairs Authority pointed out.