Cost of Living:

President to Chair Cabinet Sub Committee

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to Chair a high powered Cabinet Sub-Committee on Cost of Living. Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday said that the Cabinet of Ministers had decided to appoint a Cabinet Sub Committee on Cost of Living to be chaired by the President.

The Cabinet Sub Committee consists of 15 Ministers including the Prime Minister. The committee will try to find ways of providing the benefits of the development projects implemented by the Government to the people and will make necessary recommendations to provide relief to the public, he added.

Also on a recommendation by Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, the cabinet has decided to mill 70,000 MT of paddy purchased during the 2009/2010 Maha season by the Paddy Marketing Board. These stocks are to be issued to Lak Sathosa retail and Co-operative sales outlets throughout the country.

The move is expected to bring down rice prices in the retail markets.

(RS)