Minister Rishard Bathi-Uddin says the gazette notification with regard to control prices of rice will be issued soon. After engaging in a inspection visit at the rice whole sale shops in Pettah yesterday, the minister told the media that there is no shortage of rice in the market at present. 50,000 metric tons of paeddy from the government warehouses have already been threshed in to rice and distributed throughout the island via SATHOSA outlets. 60,000 metric tons of rice have been imported and they will also be issued to the whole sale dealers in the coming days.

190 thousand metric tons of more rice is to be reached in the island in the coming days as well. The government will not leave room for the errant traders to exploit consumers. The Consumer Affairs authority has deployed about 250 officers to raid the shops that sell rice at higher prices. The minister request the public to inform the consumer affairs authority via hot line 1977 regarding any trader violating the rules.