Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said it is the responsibility of the Government to safeguard the consumers from opportunistic private rice mill owners.
“These rice mill owners have planned to sell rice at Rs. 350 per kilo during the New Year Festival season in April. We cannot allow them to exploit the innocent people of this country."
"That is why the Government, as per the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, decided to import enough rice for our people during the next few weeks,” he said.
Minister Gunawardena when contacted by the Daily News added that steps will be taken to sell these rice varieties to the consumers through the outlets of the CWE at reasonable and concessionary rates during the festive season.
Prices of rice would not be allowed to be increased by private rice mill owners who try to create an artificial shortage in the country to exploit the consumers.
“As a responsible Government, we will never allow the rice mafia and such racketeers to capitalize on the situation within the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic which we have for had two years,” Minister Gunawardena said.
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