President tells meeting of Special Committee on Food Security and Cost of Living:

African market for Sri Lanka’s surplus rice

*President orders smooth flow of essential food items

*Govt specifies fair price for milk food

President Mahinda Rajapaksa

There is a potential market in African countries for surplus rice produced in Sri Lanka, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said at a meeting of the Special Committee on Food Security and Cost of Living at Temple Trees on Tuesday afternoon.

The President said leaders of African countries who met him in New York on the sidelines of the 66th UN General Assembly sessions, informed him about the existing demand for rice in their countries and wanted Sri Lanka to cater to their needs. President Rajapaksa told officials to explore this avenue and take steps to export surplus rice to those countries, said a press release by the President’s media division.

President Rajapaksa who referred to the forthcoming festive season also directed officials to ensure a smooth flow of essential food items to the market during the festive season to prevent unscrupulous traders creating artificial shortages to jack up prices. The President said the government has specified a fair price for milk food and requested them to arrange talks with milk food importing companies to maintain prices at a stable level.

Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Johnston Fernando, S B Navinna, Geethanjana Gunewardena and Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene and ministry secretaries and other officials attended the meeting.