The State Trading Organization (STO) has refuted reports that the retail arm has been controlling their sale of rice due to stock shortages.

A senior official from STO said that their policy of selling 5 kilograms per person has always been the norm, and is not indicative ‘flailing stock’.

“STO’s super mart has always sold one 5-kilogram sack of rice per head, this is nothing new” the official said.

The official further said that this policy was set due to local retailing buying 5-kilogram sacks in bulk and reselling them at higher prices.

The official maintained that the STO is not undergoing a shortage of stock in any staple food items.