The three major local rice producers including Dudley Sirisena earned improper profits amounting to Rs. 500 million within the last ten days, alleged Mudith Perera, the President of the United Rice Producers Association, speaking to a briefing yesterday (19).
“Mr. Dudley Sirisena says Nadu rice is given for a wholesale price of Rs. 218. The maximum retail price of Nadu in Sri Lanka is Rs. 220. So, traders cannot do businesses by purchasing rice stocks for Rs. 218 and selling them for Rs. 220 for retail. By saying that stocks are being supplied for Rs. 218, he is influencing the retailer to sell rice for prices greater than the maximum retail price. Because Rs. 2 cannot cover the expenses of a retailer. He may survive only if he has a profit volume of at least Rs. 5 – 6. So, we urge large-scale mill owners, including Mr. Dudley Sirisena, not to set a wholesale price that violates this maximum retail price, but to set one that is reasonably profitable for the retailer as well,” he said.
Perera went on: “Also, the most serious matter is that this large-scale group during the last ten days had released rice stocks for price ranges of Rs. 240 – 250 – 270 in Sri Lanka. Even if rice was being sold for Rs. 215, these three rice producers collect a profit of over Rs. 100 million a day. At a time when the people are suffering from such an economic crisis, these three leading businessmen robbed Rs. 50 million a day. That means, Rs. 500 million were stolen from the household in a matter of ten days. The three robbed while people could not afford to even buy a kilo of rice.”
MIAP
