Rice price down in two weeks

Irangika RANGE

COLOMBO: The price of rice will go down within the next two weeks in the local market, Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Ministry Secretary Dr. R.M.K. Rathnayake said.

The price of rice will decrease with the beginning of the peak harvesting season of the largest local paddy production area in Mahaweli H region in Polonnaruwa, Aranaganwila, Dehiattakandiya and Mahiyanganaya from March 15, he said.

Rathnayake said 60 per cent of paddy production is to be harvested from March 15 to April 10 in these areas.

“The price of rice is quite high at present. Prices are expected to come down after the harvested paddy is supplied to the market within the next few weeks after milling.”

He said only 40 per cent of the crop has been harvested so far and another 60 per cent will be harvested at the peak harvesting season commencing from March 15 and ending April 10.

A spokesman for the Maradagahamula Rice Millers’ Association said the price of a kilo of rice increased by Rs. 2 due to the prevailing heavy rains. Harvesting could not be done due to heavy rains and the result is the decrease in supplies to the market. “If the climate conditions are good, the price of rice would definitely come down,” he said.