Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake engaged in a inspection tour of the Pettah area in Colombo on Friday morning to ascertain whether there was any truth in certain reports which stated that there is a shortage of rice.
Minister of Industry and Commerce Affairs Rishard Badiudin accompanied the Minister.
The Ministers first inspected wholesale rice stores on Bodhiraja Mawatha in Pettah.
They exchanged views with wholesale rice dealers about the prices of consumer items including rice.
The merchants said that there is no such shortage of rice in the Pettah wholesale trade stalls.
At the end of the inspection tour, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who addressed the media stated that certain unscrupulous traders are attempting to create an artificial shortage in the market during the festival season through which they intend to hike prices of rice.
The minister said this government will not allow them to exploit consumers.
He also said that the responsibility of the government is to protect the consumer as well as the local farmer.
The Finance Minister said, “President Maithripala Sirisena pointed out to me yesterday that he received information about certain unscrupulous traders attempting to create an artificial rice shortage in order to increase the prices of rice during the festival season.
I joined Minister Rishad Bathiudin to visit the wholesale traders in Pettah today. We witnessed that there is no rice shortage in these wholesale stores.
“Prices of rice, dhal and green gram remain at a lower rate. Certain factions attempt to sell commodities at higher prices by convincing the consumer that there is a shortage of consumer goods.
We would like to say such dishonest parties to visit Pettah and admit the reality.
“I make one plea. That is to draw your attention to the consumer while making your business. Don’t increase prices indiscriminately.
“We are protecting the consumer while guarding the producers as well through a proper tax policy mechanism,” the minister added.