Price of rice controlled by large scale rice mill owners: D. E.W. Gunasekara

Senior Leader of Sri Lanka Communist Party D. E.W. Gunasekara said the main large scale rice mill owners were sympathisers of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) who purchase and stock 46 per cent of the country’s paddy production and after about a year they release the stock of rice at the prices of their choice and that the price of rice is under their control.

Addressing the 12th Matara District Conference of the party he said corruption could not be eliminated but could be controlled. He said the main problem today was the economic factor.

“The economic crisis has affected every country. America prints money but money printed by Sri Lanka has no recognition at the international level. US exchequer has run short of dollars. However, anyone doesn’t talk about it. The state fiscal policies are formulated to suit new liberalism. Printing money would not resolve the problem. It only results in inflation and a high cost of living. In 1978 Finance Minister Ronnie De Mel brought down the income from taxation from 24 per cent to six per cent. If this was not restored to 24 per cent the country will have to go on begging for dollars. The need of the hour is to build a class front. In 1947 the leftist political parties had 25 representatives in parliament. The power of the leftist political parties declined for want of consensus. This resulted in the UNP coming into power. However, the progressive parties joined hands in 1956 and defeated the UNP which suffered a serious debacle. In 1972 a new constitution was introduced to form a republic.

Today the country is facing the severest crisis since independence. The major political parties have failed to realise it. There is no dialogue about it. The market economy and the capital assets are in the hands of the capitalists. Poverty could not be eliminated unless the capitalists’ control of the economy was changed,” he further said.

Actg. Chairman of the Party Weerasumana Weerasinghe and other guests paid floral tributes to the Dr. S.A.Wickremesinghe statue. (Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk)