Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara criticized President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for allegedly prioritizing mill owners over the public. Bandara accused the President of kowtowing to mill owners by allowing the price of Nadu rice to increase from Rs. 220 to Rs. 230 per kilo, despite promises during the election campaign that he would not be subservient to them.

Speaking at the SJB’s daily media briefing today (9), Bandara said that the President had facilitated an opportunity for mill owners to pocket an additional Rs. 10 per kilo, while failing to address the price of milk samba rice. He also pointed out that the President had made statements about protecting the “super family” and reducing the price of Nadu rice for the common man, but had not followed through with actions that would benefit the public.

“The President promised not to import rice except for the tourism industry, yet the government has made efforts to bring rice from abroad,” Bandara noted. He further emphasized that at least 100,000 metric tons of rice would need to be imported to address the shortage.

Bandara also expressed concern over the practices of rice wholesalers in Pettah, who are reportedly selling rice imported into the country at Rs. 220 per kilo. “The country does not need a government to carry out such work,” Bandara stated, suggesting that the President should hand over the government to the wholesalers in Pettah.

The SJB MP concluded by urging the government to establish a program to regulate the price of imported rice in the market.