A Sri Lankan government minister has told estate workers to eat rice flour items instead of using wheat flour, as the price of wheat continued to rise.

The Sunday Times reports that Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said estate workers should avoid eating roti, traditionally made from wheat flour, proposing subsidised rice flour be provided instead.

His remarks come as the Sri Lankan government introduced a hotline for consumers to call and complain about retailers who are charging higher than the government controlled price for rice. The Consumer Affairs Authority has so far raided 400 vendors who had sold goods at higher than the set limit, reports ColomboPage.

The government had earlier banned wheat products from various public institutions, including hospital, prison and school canteens, with Sinhala nationalists labelling wheat as part of an international conspiracy against the country.

The Sri Lankan government has handed over 94 Tamil Nadu fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard, after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered their release as a goodwill gesture for Indian Independence Day.

The Indian High Commission has increased its defence representation in Sri Lanka reports the New Indian Express, with a member from the Army heading the Defence Wing.

Col Gurinder S Klaire has been appointed as Deputy Defence Advisor to assist Defence Advisor Capt Prakash Gopalan, the first time a member of the Army has held the post, which has traditionally been taken up by a member of the Navy.