AreaSri Lanka

Commodity GroupRice

CommodityAll

Date30/08/2021

Policy CategoryConsumption and marketing

Policy InstrumentConsumer prices, stock-holding

DescriptionProclaimed Emergency Regulations for the supply of essential foods, with immediate effect, in view of the emergency situation faced by the country in the context of the COVID-19 crisis. The Emergency (Provision of Essential Food) Regulation that accompanied the proclamation of state of emergency seeks to avert market irregularities and activities with detrimental effects on consumers, such as withholding, interrupting the distribution of supplies or charging high prices on essential foodstuffs, such as rice and sugar. With this aim, the Regulation deems as essential services those required for the collection, storage, refinement, transport and distribution of essential consumer items, such as paddy, rice and sugar. It sets out actions deemed to be offences in connection with these essential services, such as interrupting, obstructing, delaying or restricting their maintenance, while also calling on the appointment of a Commissioner General of Essential Services to implement and coordinate actions in relation to them. The Regulation also instructs Superintendents of Police to take possession of premises used to store foodstuffs, including paddy, rice and sugar, if these are alleged to have been used for or in connection with an offence set out by the Regulation. Among other provisions, the Regulation also authorizes officials to seize supplies of basic foodstuffs, including paddy and rice, as well as vehicles transporting them, if deemed necessary for the purposes of proving said supplies to the public. In such circumstances, officials are instructed to take into account government-certified or customs-specified prices when providing the supplies to the public.