He alleges that they had purchased Samba between Rs. 35-40 per kilo and Nadu at Rs. 42 and are storing these stocks.
He noted that the large scale mill owners are currently releasing the 2018 Yala and Maha season paddy stocks to the market.
He further said, “These large scale mill owners have yet not touched the 2019 paddy stocks. They usually keep the paddy stocks for about a year prior to releasing it to the market.”
Two days after the presidential election the large scale mill owners had reduced the price of rice by Rs. 5, he said.
Karunaratne charged that these large scale rice traders make over Rs. 25 profit per kilo of rice.
After the Rs. 98 stipulated price for Nadu and Samba was enforced, the large scale mill owners only release a limited stock of rice to the market, the small scale rice mill owners allege.
Who are the five rice mill owners?
The large scale rice mill owners are Araliya, Nipuna, New Ratna, Hiru and Menaka.
The owner of Nipuna Rice Mills is MP Siripala Gamlath, while Menaka Rice Mills is owned by his brother.
Similarly, Hiru Rice Mills is owned by his brother-in-law.
The Araliya Rice Mill is owned by former President Maithripala Sirisena’s brother Dudley Sirisena. The former President’s close associate L.J. Mitrapala is the owner of Ratna Rice Mills.
Next season rice to be purchased in scientific manner
Meanwhile, the cost of living Cabinet sub-committee met yesterday with the patronage of President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and they had discussed plans to purchase rice in the next season according to a scientific process and to expand the paddy storage facilities throughout the country, the Presidential Media unit stated.
With the decision taken by the government to regulate the price of rice, it was reviewed during the meeting how best to ensure that the public gets the benefit of this move.
