The clarification stresses that the media reports have focused on stocks that are earmarked to be discarded rather than the fresh quantities kept for consumption.
He said that the media reports had not given the true picture by publishing "“LakSathosa storage in Bollegala, Kelaniya, sealed. 10,700 M-tonnes of rice, suspected to be unfit for consumption found”.
"The Government of Sri Lanka, as a result of government to government agreement entered into with (the Government of) Bangladesh in December 2014, imported 25,000 MT of ‘nadu’ rice from Bangladesh in the first week of January 2015 for the domestic market.
"The 25,000 MT rice volume was officially guaranteed to be consumable and fit for consumption till January 2017. Of this volume, 12656 MT were despatched to Bollegala storage (in Kelaniya area) with the balance sent to Lanka Sathosa’s “Kelaniya” storage. Of the 12656 MT consumable rice at Bollegala storage, 783 MT have been sold already", he further said.
The Chairman of Lanka Sathosa Mr.Jiran Atapattuin his clarification said "Also stored at the Bollegala storage are two tonnes of ‘swept rice’ which are NOT FOR SALE. These stocks were created as a result of spilling out from main stocks and are separately stored for later disposal.
"It is these two tonnes of rice waiting to be discarded that appear to have been publicised by media as ‘rice unfit for consumption. Therefore the 10700 M-tonnes of rice unfit for consumption is clearly a wrong statement and misleading.
"The two tonnes of ‘swept rice’ cannot be discarded without permission from the officers of 'Board of Survey' of Lanka Sathosa.
"Since the Board of Survey is not appointed yet, these two tonnes were left at Bollegala storage till these appointments would be made so that inspections would begin. Lanka Sathosa, with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, is currently working towards formulating the next “Board of Survey” team. Once this team is appointed, it will inspect the two tonnes of rice and arrive at an appropriate decision", the Chairman added.
Mr. Atapattu further said that Lanka Sathosa shall make its representation at Mahara Courts next week, possibly on Monday 30 March to request an order to re-open the storage sealed by MOH.
