Rice Mill operations declared as an essential service

Colombo (News 1st) : The services of rice mill owners were declared as an essential service for COVID-19 quarantine measures until further notice.

A statement from the President's Media Division noted the decision was taken as it is essential to ensure food security in the country as well the supply of food and rice production, storage & distribution. The statement said all rice mill owners in the country must take mandatory steps to ensure rice production takes place in their respective areas by converting all their paddy stocks in to rice. Accordingly, the Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundara informed the Acting IGP, Director General of Health Services, the Commissioner General Food and the Consumer Affairs Authority of the decision reached. Further, Small scale rice mill owners should ensure rice distribution takes place in their respective Divisional Secretariats and Medium scale rice mill owners in their respective District Secretariats. Large scale rice mill owners should ensure rice stocks are distributed island-wide. The PMD says at present the harvest amounts to 03 Million Metric Tonnes and 2/3 remain as rice stocks. It adds, concerns were raised of the possibility of certain parties to increase rice prices and disrupt the supply chain which in turn poses a risk to the quarantine process and food security. According to the President's Media Division, State Osu Sala, Pharmacies and Banks remain classified as essential services.