President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a meeting with officials from the Agriculture and Trade Ministries and representatives from the Paddy Marketing Board on Friday (25) to address the surging rice prices in Sri Lanka. Held at the Presidential Secretariat, the meeting aimed to devise urgent strategies to stabilize the market and ensure food affordability.
Key Points Discussed:
- Guidance on Price Stability: President Dissanayake emphasized the need for immediate action, directing officials to implement measures that could stabilize rice prices effectively in the short term.
- Inter-Ministry Collaboration: The meeting brought together key officials, including Pradeep Saputhanthri, Secretary to the Prime Minister; M.P.N.M. Wickremesingha, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture; M.M. Naimuddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Trade; Hemantha Samarakoon, Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority; and A.M.U. Pinnalanda, Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board. Their input focused on strategies to ensure price stability and consumer protection.
- Consumer Protection Initiatives: Discussions centered on collaborative efforts to prevent artificial price hikes and support food security. The Consumer Affairs Authority highlighted possible interventions to curb price manipulation by stakeholders.
This high-level meeting underscores the government’s commitment to controlling essential commodity prices and minimizing the economic strain on Sri Lankan households amidst inflationary pressures.
Update from PMD
Anura Kumara Dissanayake President's Media Division
Last modified: October 27, 2024