The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday (27) in Bandaranaike, Colombo said that the government has decided to import 100,000 metric tons of rice equivalent to Keeri Samba, and that with the receipt of this stock of rice, the government expects that the increase in rice prices will be controlled and the rice shortage will be eliminated. It is reported that at the time of the fruit and vegetable exhibition held at the Memorial International Conference Hall, the public asked the minister about the shortage of kiri samba.
The minister who commented further,
“The minister who replied to the people said that certain rice businessmen have created a shortage of kiri samba and samba rice in anticipation of the upcoming festival season in December and January. But there is no shortage of rice in the country. There is enough rice and paddy stock in the country. Some farmers are also holding rice stocks in anticipation of a rise in the price of rice. There is no shortage of kiri samba rice in the country. In the last season, kiri samba was planted on 07 percent of the paddy cultivation land, and a yield of 5000 metric tons was obtained. But the government has secured rice reserves. Due to not taking steps to maintain it, some rice mill owners have created an artificial rice shortage in the country to increase the price of kiri samba.
