The Hon. Amila Prasad

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I address this question to the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.

¶ 02 At present there is a shortage of rice in the country and consumers face high prices. Also, with the upcoming festive season, amid issues of rice prices and shortage, I expect answers from the Hon. Minister to the following questions:

¶ 03 1. What factors did the Government consider in deciding a margin of Rs. 5.00 between wholesale and retail prices?

¶ 04 2. What factors were considered in determining the wholesale price?

¶ 05 3. Has the current stock of Nadu rice and paddy in the country been calculated? If so, what is the quantity?

¶ 06 4. Does the Government intend to continue importing rice from India or any other country?

¶ 07 5. How will such rice shortages be prevented in the future?

¶ 08 6. What measures will the Government take to control rice prices in the future?

¶ 09 Hon. Minister, those are my main questions. Also, a small additional question: why did the Government delay importing rice during this period? If rice had been brought earlier from India or another country, this shortage could have been avoided. In the future, as a Government, you intend to maintain buffer stocks and control prices. In controlling prices, do you expect to bring rice from other countries to regulate the price? I would like your views on that too, Hon. Minister.