Rubber Basmathi Rice Drama Episode
Followed by allegations made in social media that the basmathie rice imported and sold by CWE sales centres are not normal, but made out of rubber cum plastic materials, the CWE Chairman,D.M.Tennakone called for a press conference at CWE Head Office at Vauxhall Street yesterday (5 th ) to clear the clouds surrounding the allegation.
Mr.Tennakone addressed the media and did a small demonstration with the Basmathie rice and rice cooked with it. During the demonstration attempt was made to squeeze cooked rice and make it in small ball form to test it whether bumping as shown in social media. But they were not successful and proved it not so as alleged in social media. Journalists were at liberty to examine it.
Subsequently, he told the journalists that the basmathi rice imported from Pakistan was taken in only after required scientific tests were done and approved by competent personnel assigned for it. This rice was declared usable up to 17 th March 2019. He further said that after rubber/ plastic rice drama was staged in social media, he walked into Pettah Sathosa, bought and cooked it. He didn’t find any difference as alleged. This may be a well orchestrated conspiracy to discredit Sathosa.
He went on addressing the media claiming that during the flood disaster CWE helped affected people with relief supplies worth over 70 million through Divisional and District Secretaries. CWE trading is mainly based on people’s welfare. Price of CWE goods are less than the price of Super market chain in the country. Further CWE proposed to open additional 125 branches in the country to make 500 strong CWE network, which is a potential threat to them. This may be one of the reasons for staging this rubber / plastic rice drama.
Towards the end he said, sale of this particular basmathi rice imported from Pakistan is temporarily suspended pending report from Borella Medical Research Institute (MRI). On completion of test and clearance received, stern legal action will be instituted against the Directors, Actors and Script writers of this drama episode, he concluded.
