Issues in releasing imported rice to market due to higher taxes: Former Dy Speaker

• Country had bountiful paddy harvest last season, no reason for rice shortage

 By Ajith Siriwardana

Former Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksha said yesterday an issue has arisen in releasing imported rice to the market due to higher taxes imposed on imported rice.
He told reporters that 75,000 metric tonnes of rice had been imported to the country, but the imported rice could not be released to the market as the government had taxed them like the black market.
“The government has earned billions of rupees from imported rice by further burdening the people. But, the people are starving,” he said. Rajapaksha said there is sufficient rice production in the country as a bountiful paddy harvest was reported in the last season and added that there is no reason for a rice shortage in the country.
“The government has failed to manage the available rice stocks. If the government is unable to provide rice to the people, let us do that. We will resolve the issue within two days,” he said.