President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed rice traders to sell Nadu rice at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilo and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilo, emphasizing the public’s right to affordable food.
The President instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to closely monitor the market over the next ten days and strictly enforce laws against rice mill owners who fail to comply with the fixed prices.
During a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat today (07) with officials from the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, along with rice traders, the President highlighted that the nation’s largest investments are allocated to the Ministry of Highways, Irrigation, and Agriculture sectors, with significant subsidies provided to farmers.
Additionally, he noted that low-interest bank loans have been extended to traders for paddy purchases and urged rice traders to respect the public’s right to affordable rice.
The fixed prices for rice are as follows:
Nadu rice: Wholesale – Rs. 225 per kilo; Retail – Rs. 230 per kilo
White rice: Wholesale – Rs. 215 per kilo; Retail – Rs. 220 per kilo
Imported Nadu rice: Retail – Rs. 220 per kilo
Samba rice: Wholesale – Rs. 235 per kilo; Retail – Rs. 240 per kilo
Keeri Samba rice:** Wholesale – Rs. 255 per kilo; Retail – Rs. 260 per kilo
The President strongly criticized rice mill owners for frequently altering prices and directed the CAA to monitor daily rice production and distribution by mills. He urged rice traders to cooperate with the government to resolve rice-related issues amicably.
The meeting was attended by Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe and key officials, including Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture D.P. Wickramasinghe, Chairman of the CAA Hemantha Samarakoon, and Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board A.M.U. Pinnalanda, among others.
