President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has introduced new maximum retail and wholesale price limits for various types of rice following a discussion with rice traders, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).
During the meeting, the President directed rice traders to sell Nadu rice at a wholesale price of Rs. 225 per kilogram and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilogram. He also instructed the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) to closely monitor the situation over the next ten days and to strictly enforce the law against rice mill owners who fail to comply with these price limits.
President Dissanayake emphasised that the government allocates significant investments to the Ministry of Highways, as well as the Irrigation and Agriculture sectors, providing substantial subsidies to farmers. He noted that low-interest bank loans have also been offered to traders for purchasing paddy. In this context, he urged rice traders not to compromise the public’s right to access affordable rice.
The new price limits are as follows:
- Nadu Rice: Wholesale: Rs. 225 per kilogram | Retail: Rs. 230 per kilogram
- White Rice: Wholesale: Rs. 215 per kilogram | Retail: Rs. 220 per kilogram
- Imported Nadu Rice: Retail: Rs. 220 per kilogram
- Samba Rice: Wholesale: Rs. 235 per kilogram | Retail: Rs. 240 per kilogram
- Keeri Samba: Wholesale: Rs. 255 per kilogram | Retail: Rs. 260 per kilogram
The President also criticised rice mill owners for frequently altering rice prices and instructed the CAA to monitor daily rice production and distribution by mills. He called on rice traders to work collaboratively with the government to resolve issues in the rice market amicably.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development, including Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority Hemantha Samarakoon, among others.
