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Blunders of past regimes trigger rice shortage: Minister



In response to growing concerns over the scarcity of red rice in the local market, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe has assured the public that the situation will soon improve. 

Making a special statement to the media, Minister blamed previous administrations for the crisis.

He attributed the problem to years of mismanagement, emphasizing that better policies could have prevented the current predicament.

The Minister also criticized a controversial policy implemented by the previous government, which distributed 20 kilograms of red rice to households indiscriminately. 

“Red rice is an essential food item, especially during the Thai Pongal celebrations, and we are aware of the anxiety caused by this shortage. Plans are afoot to stabilize supply ahead of upcoming harvests,” Samarasinghe stated. 

According to data shared by the Minister, red rice cultivation in Sri Lanka is mainly concentrated in the Southern and Eastern provinces, including Matara, Galle, and Hambantota. Despite cultivating over 277,000 hectares during the Maha season of 2024 and producing around 706,000 metric tons of paddy, the market still faces supply issues. 

The Yala season that followed added another 403,097 metric tons, yet logistical failures disrupted proper distribution.

Looking ahead, Samarasinghe highlighted that preparations for the 2025 Maha season are already underway, with 161,067 hectares planted and a projected yield of over 648,000 metric tons.

He expressed confidence that supply will normalize in the coming months.



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