Govt. to act against Polonnaruwa rice mill owner for overpricing: Minister

25 February 2025 08:11 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 21 Bookmark

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By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, Feb 25 (Daily Mirror) - The Government will take special action against a rice mill owner in Polonnaruwa who has repeatedly sold rice at a rate higher than the stipulated rate, Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe told Parliament today.

He said this mill owner is selling Nadu rice at Rs. 255 a kilo while Keeri Samba is sold at Rs. 275 a kilo.

"This mill owner is selling rice at higher rates after borrowing Rs. 17 billion from a state bank," the Minister added.

Comments - 21

Lk Tuesday, 25 February 2025 08:41 PM

Take over them and punish some of them : so that no one dares to do this

6 64

Rip Winkle Tuesday, 25 February 2025 08:59 PM

Waiting ...

2 55

R Navaratnam Tuesday, 25 February 2025 10:07 PM

1) Let the courts decide the overpricing. 2) For me, if the owner of the rice mill has not benefitted from Governments subsidies, then I consider rice mill owner could decide the price of rice. Over pricing problem is mainly due to late settlement to farmers by Government through PMB. Government needs to look into this rather than go after private rice mill owners.

41 27

Insider Tuesday, 25 February 2025 10:43 PM

There is no late settlement to farmers by Government through PMB. The next working day after paddy given to PMB, payment made direct to farmers bank account. Only thing is no cash in order to ensure no suspicious dealings would result or misappropriation.

0 2

P C Ranawaka Wednesday, 26 February 2025 04:39 AM

He bought a helicopter with super profits and supported vikata nayaka during election.

1 1

Ram P Wednesday, 26 February 2025 04:49 AM

With one Gazette seize the rice, sell it at the controlled price and they pay him from the sales proceeds.

0 3

Punchi Banda Wednesday, 26 February 2025 04:56 AM

What Wasantha very conveniently forgot to mention is that the Mill owner donated a lot of money for the NPP. They can no longer blame the previous government for everything. Soon the public will get fed up with all the excuses !

1 3

Ram P Wednesday, 26 February 2025 04:56 AM

When I asked for Rs 50,000 loan in the Nineties from BOC they asked for a guarantor when I had my home loan with them with equity amounting to at least 5 times the loan balance due. Did the mill owner provide a colaterral to borrow 17 Billion? If not something must be wrong with the lendor Bank. During the last goverment we saw 50 plus Billion wiped out from the Bank's books when the borrowers failed to pay. This loan contract too may end the same way. Finance Minister must lay some rules ASAP on Banks lending

0 2

Kays Wednesday, 26 February 2025 06:55 AM

Minister is too scared to name?

0 4

melville perera Wednesday, 26 February 2025 08:14 AM

State should issue an immediate charge sheet as the mill owner has violated a State Act and holding the public to ransom The public have a right to know - the terms of the massive bank loan of Rs..17 billion / the name of the bank / what security was given / name of mill owner / name of shareholders in loan / security provided for store/stores / store/stores lregistered / currently licenced to operate / are all taxes paid / all other personal conditions are irrelevant

0 0

Appuhamy Wednesday, 26 February 2025 08:43 AM

They take billions of rupees loans from the poor public money in state banks and then use that money to rip off the poor citizens. Be it big or small they all must obey the rules of the nation.

0 1

Appuhamy Wednesday, 26 February 2025 08:43 AM

They take billions of rupees loans from the poor public money in state banks and then use that money to rip off the poor citizens. Be it big or small they all must obey the rules of the nation.

0 0

RanjithT Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:01 AM

What a joker is this Comrade Minister? Let us just examine a statement I Quote. "This mill owner is selling rice at higher rates after borrowing Rs. 17 billion from a state bank," the Minister added. Unquote. What the Comrade got to do with a loan from a state bank? Banks work independently in granting loans. The borrower can even pledge the stock and get a loan. Secondly if this mill owner is selling the product over and above the controlled price CAA can initiate action under the consumer protection laws. Why not use the existing mechanism rather than making idiotic statements inside the parliament using the parliamentary privileges? This almighty JVP with 159 seats in the parliament is unable to control just one I REPEAT just one mill owner!!!!!!!!

2 4

BuffaloaCitizen Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:03 AM

Statements, Statements and more Statements. We like to see Action, Action and more Action.

0 1

gamini Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:09 AM

why don't you just name the rice mill

0 2

sam Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:13 AM

Mill owner has no name??

0 2

Mark Anandappa Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:23 AM

Big talk But surrender like Rabbit later .

1 0

Sam J Wednesday, 26 February 2025 09:46 AM

Stop lending to this rice mill owner from state banks. The same rice mill owner him self admitted that he has liabilities to state banks worth 30bn.

0 1

Dr Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 26 February 2025 10:26 AM

The worst man in the government a typical JVP mindset , not refined like the others. Have a life man going after on petty issues.

3 0

R Wednesday, 26 February 2025 12:41 PM

We must look into eaglemaithri got his hands in his pocket before unelected master debating ex president operate his love machine to control rice prices down

0 0

Judge Wednesday, 26 February 2025 12:55 PM

Who is the rice mill owner? Besides that, who is buying at that price? If there are buyers who are willing to pay that price, what can the government do. This is called market economics. NPP Ministers, you'd better learn it before governing a country.

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