Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe says that some people are working to increase the price of rice in the market by creating an artificial shortage of rice. The Minister further said that if mill owners are doing so to distress consumers, the government will not hesitate to import rice again.
The expected paddy harvest in the Maha season was not achieved due to the floods and disasters, and although a harvest of 2.9 million metric tons of paddy was expected in the Maha season, it has come down to 2.6 million metric tons. Accordingly, there is already a shortage of Keeri Samba and Samba in the market.
He also emphasizes that the government is intervening to supply rice to consumers without shortage during the festive season.