President Maithripala Sirisena, at a ceremony in Polonnaruwa today, said the government was prepared to provide imported rice at concessionary rates if the price of local rice continues to increase in the market.

Paddy production has decreased due to recent droughts, and the President said that contrary to the belief that leaders are out of touch with the common man’s plight, as a leader who came from an ordinary family, he would not allow the people to suffer.

“Under the present government, there is transformation taking place in the country in the social, economic and political spheres,” the President said, emphasizing he would continue to take the process forward, come what challenges.

The President, who also vested the Janadhipathi Adarsha Primary School in Palugasdamana, Polonnaruwa with the students, said that providing an equal right to education is also one of his key goals.

“Providing equal education to children in all areas in the country, including the North Central provinces, is one of the major plans of the current government,” he said, drawing attention to the fact that previously Janadhipathi schools were limited to only a few areas of the country.

Chief Minister of North Central Province Peshala Jayarathne, State Minister Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister Sampath Sri Nilantha and the Principal of the school Priyanga de Silva were among those who participated in this occasion.