NO Food Shortage in the country - Commissioner General of Essential Services

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Government Information Department says in a statement that there is no shortage of essential food items in the country, including rice and sugar, and for the public to not to have a fear of any food shortage. The announcement states that the Government has sufficient stocks of food items to meet the demand of the people. It adds that some local and foreign media as well as Politicians of the Opposition are propagating that there is a severe food shortage in Sri Lanka. However, it has been reported that some businesses sell essential items at high prices and hoard them, including rice and sugar, in bulk with the intention of making high profits. The statement reads that the Public Security Ordinance relating to the provision of essential food items was enacted last Monday to thwart such attempts. The Department of Government Information points out that such steps have thwarted attempts to artificially create a food shortage.