Steps taken to meet Sri Lanka’s festive demand for rice: Ministry

Dec 20, 2016 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Ministry of Industry and Commerce will increase supply of freshly milled rice to meet a surge in demand during the festive season, a statement said. Sri Lanka will import 10,000 tonnes of rice, and buy 20,000 tonnes of paddy (both White Rice and Nadu) from the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), starting 19th December. The Cooperatives Wholesale Establishment (CWE) is expected to start paddy purchase from the PMB and release this paddy to both government and private sector millers for processing. "These freshly milled rice from millers will then be released to Lanka Sathosa, thereby successfully stalling any price increases.

The freshly milled rice will be sold by Lanka Sathosa at a competitive Rs 78 per kilo," the statement said. “We want to act fast on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeshinghe’s directive. The Consumer Affairs Authority will take action against errant rice sellers,” Rishad Bathiudeen, minister of industry and commerce, said.