Sri Lanka, Nov. 5 -- The Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry has said it is ready to address a possible rice shortage in November and December through a series of measures, including Rs. 7.5 billion in interest-free loans for small- and medium-scale rice mill owners to purchase and store paddy.

The Government has also indicated that rice stocks held by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) will be released to the market if a shortage emerges.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister R. M. Jayawardena said similar arrangements had been implemented last year (2025), when rice collected by the PMB was released to the market in April, helping avert shortages and prevent prices from rising.

He explained that ...