Minister of Commerce and Trade, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe announced that the government plans to import 40,000 metric tons of rice to address a possible shortage created by large-scale rice mill owners.
Speaking to the media after the Anuradhapura District Development Council Meeting on Thursday (14), the Minister said he had received reports of an attempt to create an artificial shortage of Keeri Samba rice in the market.
“At present, only Keeri Samba rice is in short supply. The government has taken steps to address this issue to ensure consumers are not inconvenienced. No substitute for Keeri Samba has been imported yet, as the harvesting season is still ongoing. However, if large-scale mill owners continue attempts to create a shortage, the government will have no choice but to proceed with rice imports,” he explained.
The Minister also noted that the government is implementing a carefully planned development strategy. He further criticized a parliamentarian from the Mihintale area for launching a tank renovation project without approval from the relevant authorities.
“He has posted pictures of himself on Facebook while carrying out this work. Even the Chairman of the District Coordinating Committee was unaware of it. People are questioning how an opposition MP was permitted to renovate a tank, and there are suspicions of possible treasure hunting,” the Minister added.
Parliamentarians Prof. Sena Nanayakkara, Nimal Palihena, Susantha Kumara Nawarathna, District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya, and several senior officials were present at the meeting.
