Araliya Group Chairman and Rice Miller’s Association President Dudley Sirisena said on Saturday that all rice varieties would be sold under the government approved controlled prices.
However, United Rice Producer’s Association Chairman Mudith Perera yesterday refuted Sirisena’s claims and said his Association was against Sirisena’s decision as Small and Medium Scale rice producers were finding it difficult to sell rice under the controlled prices.
He charged that three large scale rice owners in the country were earning a daily profit of more than Rs.10 million and they are engaged in illegal activities as well to control prices to their advantage.
Meanwhile Small and Medium Scale Rice Miller’s Association Chairman U.K.Semasinghe also told media yesterday that members of his Association were finding it difficult to sell rice at the stipulated prices due to the increase in transport and production costs.
However Sirisena on Saturday said in spite of the fuel crisis and rising production and packaging prices, rice would be released from yesterday at the prices set by the government.
He urged other rice producers to follow the same.
Sirisena said as a local businessman he decided to sell rice at government controlled prices during this difficult time, regardless of profits.
Accordingly, a kilo of Nadu rice will be sold at Rs.220, a kilo of samba at Rs.230 and a kilo of keeri samba at Rs.260, Dudley Sirisena said.
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