Govt to import 50,000 mt of samba rice
Stocks available at Sathosa, Lak Sathosa, Coops and
Coop Cities:
Irangika RANGE
The Government will import 50,000 metric tonnes of samba rice to
provide relief to consumers for the forthcoming festive season.
|
Minister Gunawardene |
Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services
Minister Bandula Gunawardene told the Daily News that consumers will be
able to purchase the samba rice at lower prices sans a scarcity as
adequate stocks will be available in the market during this festive
season.
“Consumers are expected to be granted further relief on the
implementation of this decision,” the Minister added.
The Minister said consumers can purchase sufficient stocks of samba
rice through Sathosa, Lak Sathosa, Cooperative and Coop City outlets
across the country.
“We have taken this decision to prevent the traders go ahead with
their plans to create an artificial scarcity to jack up prices during
the season,” he said.
“If traders would manipulate measures to create an artificial
scarcity of samba rice in the market that would affect consumers,” he
explained.
Therefore, enough rice stocks will be provided to the market to
prevent any shortage occurring during the festive season, the minister
said .
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has been instructed to carry out
islandwide raids in a maximum effort to nab errant traders if they would
sell samba rice at higher rates violating the State stipulated maximum
retail price of Rs.70.
He said consumers can lodge their complaints with the CAA head office
and its branches at regional levels.
Errant traders will be prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Law
by the Consumer Affairs Authority. |
