Rice stocks arrive from India

Chamikara Weerasinghe

Ships carrying stocks of rice from South India, are now arriving in the Colombo Port. The rice stocks will be distributed islandwide in keeping with a decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure a steady supply of rice to consumers at reduced prices.

The ship, Ruhunu, carrying 3,700 metric tonnes of South Indian rice (ponni samba) stocks arrived in Colombo Port yesterday. The Commissioner General of Essential Services has made the move to import rice from South India on the directions of the President, to ensure supplies at reduced rates during the festive season. The Sri Lanka Co-operative Marketing Society has imported the present stock.