Ships Carrying 73,000 Metric Tons of Rice Reached Colombo Port Ruling out Shortage of Rice

Secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs C.S. Lokuhetti said, sale of rice in most Sathosa outlets had gone up by eight fold due to the massive demand by the public. He announced  that by yesterday three commercial ships carrying 73,000 metric tons of rice had reached the Colombo Port. He said that the unloading of rice, which had been imported from Myanmar, Pakistan and India, was continuing nonstop,  while the stocks were currently being released to consumer markets  through Sathosa outlets  by using 20 additional  lorries .

The Ministry Secretary added that sufficient stocks had also been released to supermarket chains as well, in order to cope with the rising demand.

He stated that the rice stocks brought from overseas would be suffice for three months and promised to ensure that there will not be any shortage of the country’s staple food item.

He further said due to the  intervention by President Maithripala Sirisena the country’s rice shortage was resolved by last afternoon.