In the soaring of rice prices to the point of a kilo of Nadu, Sudu Kekulu and Rathu Kekulu being at the margin of Rs. 200, from next August, people may not have 05 – 10 kg rice packets to purchase but sachets carrying a quarter of rice, warned Muditha Perera, President of the United Rice Producers’ Association, speaking to a briefing held yesterday (27).
“Today, Sri Lanka has become a country that begs for rice before the rest of the world. The rice crisis in the country today is due to the frenzy for organic farming. Only two more weeks left till the Sinhala New Year. By now, local rice Nadu, Sudu Kekulu and Rathu Kekulu have reached the Rs. 200 mark. Some of them have even surpassed Rs. 200 in the selling. The price of a kilo of Keeri Samba is currently hitting the Rs. 300 mark,” Perera said.
He added: “In early January we made a revelation that the price of a kilo of rice may reach the Rs. 300 mark during the Sinhala New Year. We ask the Trade Minister if he feels ‘well‘ now. In general, 95 per cent of the small and medium scale rice producers in Sri Lanka have become inactive now. Rice queues may also be seen in the future. After August, you may not have 05 – 10 kg rice packets to buy, but sachet packets carrying a quarter of rice. We ask Minister Mahindananda whether nothing will happen to the two kidneys when eating rice from India which uses 25 per cent more chemical fertiliser than Sri Lanka. China uses 200 per cent chemical fertiliser than Sri Lanka.”
MIAP
