News Today: Artificial rice shortage in Sri Lanka revealed by President Dissanayake

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed that the country is facing an artificial rice shortage, not due to actual scarcity, but due to the actions of certain rice mill owners. During a rally in Trincomalee, the President stated that while there appears to be a rice shortage in shops, there is no actual shortage of rice in the country.

The President held a meeting with major rice mill owners, clearly informing them that the government prefers cooperation but will not hesitate to take legal action against those unwilling to act responsibly. “There is no need to import rice except for the tourism industry,” he said, emphasizing the importance of local cultivation and the need for mill owners to act with integrity.

“Our first priority is to work with understanding, but if mill owners continue to contribute to this artificially created shortage, we will enforce the law,” he added.

President Dissanayake reiterated that there would be no imports beyond what is necessary for tourism and urged the public to focus on cultivation to prevent reliance on foreign rice.