12 January 2022 09:30 am Views - 149
By Kelum Bandara
Symbolising the historic Rubber-Rice Pact, Sri Lanka is to seek a stock of rice from China either as a donation or to be imported, a Minister said.
The two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of this historic barter agreement this year.
Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane told Daily Mirror there is an artificial increase of rice prices in the retail market. He also said unscrupulous traders were conspiring to increase rice prices to Rs. 300 a kilo by the April new year.
As a result, he said all avenues would be explored to obtain rice from friendly countries.
“We will initiate talks with China to get a stock of rice symbolising the 70th anniversary of the Rubber-Rice Pact,” he said.
Bedsides, he said 2,000 tonnes of Nadu rice and 100,000 tonnes of Samba rice would be imported from India. Another 100,000 tonnes of rice will be imported from Myanmar.
“We have to ensure that prices remain stable and affordable,” he said.