Government stipulates maximum prices for rice

Legal action against errant traders:

Mohammed NAALIR

COLOMBO: The Government from yesterday midnight announced controlled retail and wholesale prices for rice.

Trade, Marketing development, Co-operative Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardane said accordingly, the retail price of one kilo samba will be Rs. 70. Nadu will be priced at Rs.65, Rathu Kekulu (Rs.65) and Sudu kekulu (Rs.55).

In the wholesale market one kilo of samba will be priced at Rs.63, Nadu (Rs.58), Rathu kekulu (Rs 58) and Sudu kekulu (Rs. 48).

Minister Gunawardane said this decision was taken following a meeting at Temple Trees under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Agriculture, Nation Building and Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operative Development and Consumer Affairs Ministers and Ministries secretaries.

In addition Minister Gunawardane said that as the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) has declared rice as an essential commodity from last January, the price of rice cannot be increased by the traders without the permission of the Authority.

The Minister said during the Sinhala-Hindu festive season the Government could control the price of rice at a level around Rs. 80 in certain areas through Multi Purpose Co-operative Societies and Lak Sathosa, although various attempts were made to increase the price of rice.

He said the price of paddy would not increase even though some traders have stored paddy hoping to command high prices in the market in the coming days.

The Consumer Protection Authority has introduced a new hot line number to collect information regarding price of rice and to take proper action against arbitrary price increases.

The consumers can call the CPA over 011-2321696.

Providing fake information, failing to display the price, hiding rice with a view to increase the price, refusing to sell rice while stocks are available are punishable offences according to the Consumer Protection Act, Minister Gunawardane added.

He said that the Consumer Protection Authority, the District Secretaries and divisional Secretaries of relevant districts can take proper action on price anomalies. They will raid the concerned traders on the receipt of reliable information and take legal steps against them.

He said the Government has entered to an agreement with Brunei Government to import 100,000 metric tons of rice to cater to the rice demand. Sri lanka needs 2 million metric tons rice per year. He said the Government has held talks with India Government to import rice from India.

The Minister expressed confidence that based on the Indo-Lanka FTA Sri Lanka could import rice from India although India has imposed a worldwide restriction on the export of rice to other countries.