"There is no shortage of rice" says Minister Badula Guanwardena

New prices came into effect from Wednesday midnight , says Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Selling these rice varieties for more than the stipulated prices is prohibited under the Consumer Protection Act, Minister Gunawardena told BBC Sandesaya.

Under the new price scheme, the maximum retail price of a kilo of Samba should be Rs.70, Nadu 65, Red raw rice 65, and White raw rice 55

Selling, displaying, hiding stocks or misleading the public will be an offence and public can complain to the Consumer Protection Authority, or the civil authorities of the area, he said.

Maximum retail price price of a kilo of Samba should be Rs.70, Nadu 65, Red raw rice 65 White raw rice 55

Minister Gunawardena said a Consumer Court has been specially set up to punish the retailers who violate the price ceiling.

"This is not a price control," he added.

Rejecting that there is a rice shortage, he said it was a propaganda campaign that was launched before the New Year by "groups with vested interests" to artificially increase rice prices.

There is no shortage of rice in Sri Lanka as seen in countries like India, China, Vietnam and Thailand, Minister Bandula Gunawardena added.