Shortage of rice in local market, says Harrison

Govt. releases buffer stock of 50,000 MT

There is a shortage of rice in the local market today, Minister of Rural Economy P. Harrison said yesterday. Mr Harrison told Parliament that the government had been compelled to release the buffer stock of 50,000 metric tonnes of rice to the market because of the on-going stock shortage. “The drought that had been prevailing in the recent times has been mainly to blame for the rice shortage, “the minister said while highlighting that the production of paddy

The drought that had been prevailing in the recent times has been mainly to blame for the rice shortage

had only reached 15 per cent of the normal average yield experienced during the last four paddy seasons.

He said the government had decided to import rice on the orders of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure that there are enough stocks in the market. “We have worked towards ensuring that there are enough stocks, while also taking into account the upcoming festive season,” the minister added.