Alleged “fake” Basmati rice to be tested by Sri Lanka's MRI

A social media claim via Facebook that Basmathi rice purchased from Lanka Sathosa is made of plastic drew a strong rebuttal and response from the state-owned organization on Monday.
T.M.K.B. Tennekoon, Chairman, Lanka Sathosa Ltd, told reporters at a hurriedly-summoned news conference, that after investigation by the Medical Research Institute (MRI), if the so-called report is proved wrong they would take legal action against the media concerned for damages caused to the organisation’s goodwill. 
He alleged that the media can create a big commotion in the society out of a minute thing (Ivakbawak nethiwa ada maadhyayata puluwan podi theyak aragena mawaapanna ratte okkoma kelabenawa). 
Twenty tons of this rice was purchase from a local trader registered with Lanka Sathosa after a tender board approval in which the rice was imported from Pakistan, he said and consequent to the Facebook account claim the sale of the balance quantity of seven metric tons has been suspended.  
However, grilled by the media, Mr Tennekoon was forced to concede that there is no trustworthy food testing facilities in Sri Lanka with the result that there is a possibility of substandard food being sold to the consumers.(QP)