President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed rice traders to sell Nadu rice to consumers at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilo and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilo.
The President also instructed the officials Consumer Affairs Authority to closely monitor the situation over the next ten days and strictly enforce the law against rice mill owners who fail to comply with the fixed prices.
President Dissanayake made these remarks during a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, along with rice traders, at the Presidential Secretariat today (07).
The President highlighted that the largest investments in the country are allocated to the Ministry of Highways, followed by the Irrigation and Agriculture sectors, with substantial subsidies provided to farmers.
The President further pointed out that low-interest bank loans have been provided to traders for the purchase of paddy and urged rice traders not to undermine the public’s right to access affordable rice.
As a result, the following rice prices will be implemented
Wholesale price of a kilo of Nadu rice: Rs.225, Retail price: Rs.230
Wholesale price of a kilo of white rice: Rs.215, Retail price: Rs.220
Retail price of a kilo of imported Nadu rice: Rs. 220
Wholesale price of a kilo of Samba rice: Rs.235, Retail price: Rs.240
Wholesale price of a kilo of Keeri Samba: Rs.255, Retail price: Rs.260
The President also strongly criticised rice mill owners for frequently changing rice prices on a daily basis and instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority to monitor the daily rice production and distribution by mills.
Furthermore, President Dissanayake urged the rice traders to collaborate with the government in resolving the rice-related issues in an amicable manner.
The meeting was attended by Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr.Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry Secretary A. Wimalenthirajah, Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe, Development Finance Department Director General Malarmathy Gangatharan, Agriculture Department Acting Director General Dr. S.K. Wasala, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon, Paddy Marketing Board Chairman A.M.U. Pinnalanda, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute Director A.L. Chandika among other officials.
