After it was found the rice was infested with mite, the warehouses were closed, formication chemicals used on the rice and sent to the CWE immediately afterwards.

However, the use of formication chemicals on rice is very rare, and if used, the rice should be kept for at least three days before being moved.

Going against this, CWE chairman Kiran Atapattu has ordered the rice be sent to the outlets on the following day.

Rice at all CWE warehouses, including at Veyangoda, Meetotamulla and Marandagahamula, but excepting the Ekala warehouse where controversial 130,000 mt of rice brought for the CWE were kept, are infested with mite.