No increase in certified maximum price of rice

The Government has no intention of increasing the certified maximum price of rice due to any reason at a time when the people are economically distressed, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane assured.

The Minister made this observation addressing the media after a discussion held with a group of large, medium and small scale rice mill owners at his ministry auditorium yesterday.

The Minister said that certain paddy mill owners hoard paddy and rice stocks without releasing to the market and attempting to create an artificial rice shortage in the country. If these paddy mill owners continue to do so, the government will have to take a decision of importing rice to maintain a buffer stock.

He further said that it is expected to seek the approval of the cabinet of ministers at the next cabinet meeting to import 100,000 Metric tons of rice as a solution for the artificially created rice shortage.

“If anybody attempting to increase the price of rice by creating an artificial shortage, the government is not ready to fulfill their narrow objective and will take measures to import rice.” the Minister stressed.

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