Traders and shop keepers forced to give receipts to customers

Traders and shop keepers must provide customers with a detailed receipt when selling them rice, the Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade decreed. The receipt should contain the shop’s name and registration number, the Ministry further stated.

This decision came in view of complaints that traders were selling rice at prices above the government stipulated price caps.

Furthermore, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers will be assigned to apprehending any traders or mill owners who are withholding rice stocks, Minister of Internal Trade Johnston Fernando said. He added that if anyone has any information regarding such offences it should be reported to the Ministry.

Minister Johnston claimed that the country has enough rice stocks for one and a half months but that the government is prepared to import rice if stocks are insufficient.