Raids carried out island wide to seek traders hiding food stocks

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Consumer Affairs Authority says that raids are being carried out to find traders who are hiding stocks of rice. Its Chairman Shantha Dissanayake said that CAA personnel have been deployed island wide for this purpose. He said that in the face of the pandemic, traders would not release stocks of rice to the market and would sell rice in excess of the control price. He also said that legal action will be taken against those who sell rice in excess of the control price, in accordance with the new regulations publicized by the President. Meanwhile, the Commissioner General of Essential Services along with officials of the Consumer Affairs Authority inspected large scale paddy mills in the Polonnaruwa District yesterday (08). During the inspection more than 500,000 kilograms of rice was purchased at guaranteed prices. The Commissioner General of Essential Services had taken stocks of rice purchased at guaranteed prices to be sold through Sathosa branches island wide.