Rice suppliers express concerns over impractical controlled pricing of rice

By Pushpakumara Mallawarachchi - Meerigam

Rice suppliers in Marandagahamula expressed concern about the controlled price on rice which they said was not practicable. They pointed out the price of Kiri Samba was 147.00 a kilo yesterday although the control price was Rs.102. They said the price of Nadu rice had shot up beyond Rs.90.00 per kilo and red Kekulu rice to Rs. 96.00 a kilo.

The traders said the price of rice bearing special trade names was about Rs.130.00 a kilo and that the consumers preferred rice supplied by the large scale rice producers under their trade names although the rice produced by village farmers was available for lesser prices. They pointed out that selling prices supplied by rice manufactures in Pollonnaruwa was not profitable. They said the prices would further increase after the harvesting season.
The rice dealers pointed out that the large scale rice mill owners were responsible for this unusual price hike and that the government should carry on raids on their stores instead of raids targeting retail traders to prevent profiteering and to implement the control price.