Colombo (News 1st); If rice stocks are not released to the local market, steps will be taken to import rice to the country, warned Minister (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardena at a meeting with representatives from multiple sectors in the agriculture industry.
"The Maximum Retail Price or MRP will not be raised under any circumstance," said Bandula Gunawardena.
Minister Gunawardena said the network of intermediaries is not releasing rice stocks to the local market.
The Minister said the government would never allow for an artificial rice shortage to be created and stressed rice would be imported in order to prevent a price hike.