Colombo, Aug. 16 -- Minister of Commerce and Trade, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe said the government plans to import 40,000 metric tons of rice to address any possible rice shortage created by large-scale rice mill owners.

The Minister told the media after the Anuradhapura District Development Council Meeting on Thursday (14) that he had received information regarding an attempt to create a shortage of Keeri Samba rice in the market

"A shortage of only Keeri Samba rice is experienced in the market at present. The government has focused attention on resolving it to prevent any inconvenience to consumers. No steps have yet been taken to import a substitute for Keeri Samba rice, given the ongoing harvest...