President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the rice businessmen to price a kilo of Nadu rice at a wholesale price of 225 rupees and a retail price of 230 rupees.
He has also informed the consumer authority to work closely in the next ten days and strictly enforce the law against rice mill owners acting contrary to it.
It was during the discussion held by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (07) at the Presidential Secretariat Office with officials of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development and rice businessmen.
The President indicated that the highest investment is made in the Ministry of Highways, followed by the irrigation and agriculture sectors, and has also stated that the most subsidies are given to the farmers.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who has recalled that rice businessmen have been given low-interest bank loans to buy rice, has therefore emphasized to the rice businessmen not to interfere with the people’s right to rice.
According to the agreement reached in that discussion, the price of rice has been fixed as follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wholesale price of a kilo of Nadu rice is 225 rupees. Retail price is 230 rupees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wholesale price of a kilo of white raw is 215 rupees. Retail price is 220.
The retail price of a kilo of imported Nadu rice is 220 rupees<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wholesale price of a kilo of samba is 235 rupees. Retail price is 240 rupees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The wholesale price of a kilo of Keeri Samba is 255 rupees. Retail price is 260 rupees.
The President has questioned the rice mill owners regarding the daily change in the price of rice and instructed the Consumer Authority to calculate the amount of rice kilos that come out of the rice mills every day.
Also, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has invited the businessmen to resolve the rice issue amicably with the government.
Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe, President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development A. Wimalentiraja, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation D.P. Wickramasinghe, Director General of Development Finance Department Malaramathy Gangatharan, Acting Director General of Agriculture Department Dr. S.K. Vasala, Chairman of Consumer Affairs Authority Hemantha Samarakoon, Chairman of V Alevi Board AMU Pinnalanda, Director of Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research and Training Institute A.L. The President’s Media Division states that a group of officials including Chandika were present at this event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n