SriLanka, April 12 -- There will be no shortage or price increase in rice and vegetables during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe said.

Allaying growing public concerns over food supplies during the festive season, Minister Samarasinghe said there will be no increase in prices of essential items such as milk powder and wheat flour, as part of the steps taken by the Government to ease the Cost-of-Living burden on consumers.

The Minister said that the much-highlighted concern of the Opposition, the shortage of Keeri Samba, has been addressed through the import of substitute rice varieties, with stocks already reaching the market. These includ...