GoSL's programme to control rice prices, a 'FAILURE'

COLOMBO (News 1st): The National Audit Office revealed that the government's programme to control the price of rice, at times when there is a shortage of rice in the local market, by maintaining secure stocks has FAILED. According to the National Audit Office, there were NO secure rice stocks at the storage facilities of the Food Commissioner's Department during the period from 2012 to 31st December 2019. Thereby, the National Audit Office pointed out that the focus had been on fulfilling the targets of other State and Private Institutions instead of achieving the targets of the Food Commissioner's Department. The National Audit Office made these revelations by presenting a Special Audit Report with regard to the performance of Storage Utilization when maintaining secure stocks of rice. Moreover, the report notes that proper measures were NOT taken, to recover more than Rs. 110 million that should have been charged for renting out the storage facilities of the Food Commissioner's Department up until the 31st of December 2019.