Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage says that he has rejected a proposal made by the Ministry of Trade to import rice to control prices in the local market.

The Minister stated that there were sufficient stocks in the local market although the price of rice had increased to Rs. 120.

The Minister further stated that this situation has arisen due to the monopoly exercised in the rice market by a very small group.

The Minister also emphasized that there is no point in having a government if the small rice mafia cannot be controlled.

However, the government's inability to control the prices in the local market have drawn scathing criticism from many quarters in society.