Amid rising food prices, the Government temporarily reduced the import tax for imported wheat flour from LKR 36 per kg to LKR 8 per kg, effective from 14 December. In addition, the Government set a maximum price of LKR 98 per kg on Samba and Nadu varieties of rice and released rice from the state reserves to bolster market availabilities. Prices of raw white rice in November averaged 13 percent higher than in the same month last year, after significant increases in the past few months, reflecting seasonal pressure that was compounded by a reduced 2019 secondary season harvest due to poor rains. Prices of wheat flour followed similar trends but increased at a slower rate.