December 31, Colombo (LNW): In response to the ongoing shortage of raw rice in the Sri Lankan market, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has announced plans to launch a series of inspections across major rice mills and storage facilities.
The aim of these inspections is to investigate the reasons behind the supply issues and to ensure that there is no hoarding or illegal stockpiling of rice.
Chairman of the CAA, Hemantha Samarakoon, revealed that the inspections will be focused on key rice-producing regions, including Hambantota, Matara, Monaragala, Embilipitiya, and Ampara.
These areas are vital to the nation’s rice production and storage, and the inspections will seek to identify any discrepancies or irregularities in the distribution chain.
Additionally, Samarakoon stated that the CAA will collaborate with district secretaries in these regions to assist with the investigations and facilitate the process.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Customs has confirmed that 12,000 metric tonnes of imported rice are expected to arrive at the Port of Colombo in the near future.
Customs spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda clarified that this shipment is part of the 75,000 metric tonnes of imported rice that has already been processed and released into the market.
