‘Government factions creating rice shortage’

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) – The All Ceylon Farmers Federation says shortages of rice has been created by factions related to the government and the government therefore cannot solve the matter.

Chairman Namal Karunaratne said the country has in its possession sufficient stocks of rice for the next nine months adding that a rice mafia is still being created by certain factions.

He charged that only a handful of rice mill owners exist adding that they are all based in the Polonnaruwa District.

He claimed that several of them are former Ministers, candidates vying to contest the General Election and persons who have political connections.

Karunaratne said the country’s rice consumption is 3.6 million metric tonnes of rice adding that during the recent Maha Season alone 3.2 metric tonnes of rice were harvested.