Manampitiya Nimal Jayaratne –
The price of each kilo of rice will definitely increase by between Rs 25 to 59 Rupees , the Lanka Rice Producer’s Association revealed yesterday.
Calling a press conference in Sewagama, Polonnaruwa yesterday rice producers further said that due to the current fertilizer crisis, the paddy stocks come to the market will be decrease by 50% in the forthcoming Maha season.
Suraj Jayawickrema, President of the Ceylon Rice Producers’ Association and Mudith Perera, Secretary of the Association had convened the discussion.
The Ceylon Rice Growers’ Association states that a shortage of rice will arise in the country due to this situation and that in the future every kilo of rice will increase unbearably for the consumer.
Speaking further President of the Ceylon Rice Producers Association Suraj Jayawickrama said,
“Currently large scale rice mill owners are buying paddy more and more. At the same time the price of rice is increasing day by day. It has been two weeks since the government withdrew from the control price of rice. Meanwhile, the price of a kilo of rice has gone up by between ten and fifteen rupees.
Now day by day rice consumers are facing severe difficulties. Large scale rice producers in Polonnaruwa have stated that they should not buy rice at more than the price of rice packets. But now the rice in the market is being sold at an arbitrary price. Who is responsible for this? The government?
Speaking to the media, Mudith Perera, Secretary of the Ceylon Rice Producers’ Association said,
“Large scale mill owners spent huge sums of money to bring this government to power. Today, in gratitude for that cost, this government is sidelining those large scale mill owners to sell rice at the price they want.
We ask the government to think more about the 22 million people who eat rice in the country. Stop treating close friends. That’s enough for now.
We saw that the government amended the Consumer Protection Act very suddenly. The fine was Rs. 100,000. Now we are waiting to see why a law that cannot be enforced was passed. The Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority is asked to leave the presidency and go home while protecting the dignity of the Army.
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