Government does not posses a buffer stock of rice or paddy at the moment – Minister of Agriculture

Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera joining a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on the theme ‘Collective Path to a Stable Country’ today (29) announced that the country is now self-sufficient in rice production but in reply to a query by The Island  admitted that the government does not posses a buffer stock of either paddy or rice at the moment.

The Minister admitted that it is imperative that the government maintains a buffer stock of rice or paddy to counter the monopoly the millers have on the trade and added that he would bring the matter up at the cabinet meeting.

Minister Amaraweera said that there was no necessity for Sri Lanka to import any rice in 2024 and that the country may export the surplus or produce more rice based products. He said that in 2023 only ‘Basmathi’ and a small quantity of ‘Keeri Samba’ was imported. He reiterated that the Keeri Samba was imported to prevent the millers from profiting by creating an artificial shortage.