Sri Lanka, April 29 -- Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena instructed the State Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Ministry Secretary Pradeep Yasaratne to investigate the allegations of providing substandard rice and accepting money in the government's free rice distribution programme.

Following the Prime Minister's instructions, the Secretary has directed District Secretaries to carry out an urgent investigation and submit a report within a week concerning the problems in rice distribution programme.

The government recently decided to provide a rice subsidy to groups affected by the current economic situation. This subsidy was successfully implemented across the country under several categories.

Howev...