Red rice distribution by previous Govt. caused present shortage – Wasantha

The free distribution of 20 kilos of rice per person by the previous government before the Presidential Election has resulted in the shortage of red rice in the market, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Minister said that the previous Government distributed red rice even to people who do not eat it.

“There is a shortage of red rice in the market. The reason for the shortage is that the previous Government distributed 20 kilos of rice per person before the Presidential Election. It was even distributed among people who do not eat red rice,” he said in response to a question raised by MP Namal Rajapaksa.