Rice millers hoarding stocks has led to rice imports: Amaraweera

21 November 2023 12:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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BY AJITH SIRIWARDANA AND YOHAN PERERA

PARLIAMENT (Daily Mirror)- The government had to import Samba rice despite sufficient stocks of rice in the country as the millers and farmers were hoarding paddy, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

He told Parliament that the annual rice requirement in the country is 2,540,000 MT and that the country has recorded a bountiful paddy harvest of 2,750,000 MT this year.

"We don't have to import any rice. Our annual rice requirement is 2,540,000 MT. But, we have received a paddy harvest of 2,750,000 MT this year. However, rice millers and farmers are hoarding stocks without releasing them to the market. This has created a shortage of Samba and Keeri Samba rice in the market. If the horded stocks are released to the market, we don't have to import rice," he said.

While responding to a question by SJB MP Rohana Bandara, the Minister said Cabinet approval has been granted to import Keeri Samba and Samba rice to meet the shortage during the upcoming festive season.

He said that the Trade Minister has assured that imported rice will not be released to the market and that rice would be imported and distributed through Lanka Sathosa and state owned institutions.

Comments - 10

joshua Tuesday, 21 November 2023 12:59 PM

why have we appointed you all? to give running commentaries? Do your job for the sake of the country or go home.

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Farieze Tuesday, 21 November 2023 02:03 PM

Tske action

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Jaffna Tamil Tuesday, 21 November 2023 01:08 PM

Almost all Rice Mill owners are crooks since we could remember . Send the Army and raid all rice mills. Also a suggestion, as Rice Milks are essential for our food production, why can’t we nationalise and take over all Rice Mills.

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BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 21 November 2023 01:27 PM

This is a statement you make every year for past ten years. Hoarding of rice cannot be done inside houses, they have to be in large store areas. We have a Police and Intelligence Divisions that can find out locations of hoarding. The hoarders can all be identified, but we all know they are good friend's of all you bastards. Your making statements like a thoththa baba because you all are part of this mafia.

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Patcitz Tuesday, 21 November 2023 01:31 PM

Anyway, do not bring rice from INDIA, which exports substandard production and is unhygienic for human consumption, rather consider China or other Western parts of the world, if the need arises.

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Ram Tuesday, 21 November 2023 03:41 PM

If the Minister cannot get the hoarded rice or paddy out from the ware houses, he must resign for a person who is strong to take his Ministry

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Buddhist Tuesday, 21 November 2023 05:21 PM

If mill owners are hoarding rice and if the Minister knows about it why won't he raid those mills? Has he been bribed by the mill owners?

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N V Jen Tuesday, 21 November 2023 07:21 PM

Aren't you ashamed to say this. Are rice millers mafia is more powerful than the governments? The truth is you all are in their payroll during election times. That's why you won't touch them at all .

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Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 22 November 2023 04:19 AM

Probably Sirisena trying to earn extra money to pay his brothers Rs 150 million fine.

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melvilleperera Wednesday, 22 November 2023 09:07 AM

gutless minister - he says we have sufficient stocks yet importing rice and allowing the rice mafia to hold the country to ransom The govt must step in and confiscate the stock or cancel all benefits to farmers to release stocks and the suffering masses are taxed to pay IMF loans and the minister is wasting IMF money to import rice What stupid logic is this

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