October 26, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with officials from the Agriculture and Trade Ministries and representatives from the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) yesterday (25) at the Presidential Secretariat to address rising rice prices and discuss stabilization measures.
During the meeting, the President outlined immediate actions to tackle price concerns, highlighting the need for a comprehensive database of rice mill owners and wholesale dealers. He instructed officers to inspect rice stocks in Polonnaruwa and Ampara Districts in the coming days and gather information on pledge loans related to rice storage.
Key officials in attendance included Prime Minister’s Secretary Pradeep Saputhanthri, Agriculture Ministry Secretary M.P.N.M. Wickremesingha, Trade Ministry Secretary M.M. Naimuddin, Consumer Affairs Authority Chairman Hemantha Samarakoon, and PMB Chairman A.M.U. Pinnalanda.
In a separate session with rice mill owners, President Dissanayake announced that the government would assist small and medium-scale rice mills in expanding their capacity, aiming to stabilize the rice market. He emphasized that while the government provides extensive support for agriculture, irrigation, and fertilizer subsidies, rice mill owners bear a social responsibility to maintain fair pricing for consumers.
The President warned against exploitative practices, stating that no business would be allowed to profit unfairly by inflating rice prices, reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible rice prices for the public.
