Govt rice mill to counter mafia

Disna MUDALIGE

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that a discussion is to be held with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to commence a government owned rice mill with the intention of breaking up the monopoly of private businessmen in the field.

He observed that the need of government intervention into this sector has been strongly felt as a monopoly has been created with a few rice mill owners.

He said rice mill owners influence to a great extent to control the prices of rice varieties. He noted that a special meeting would be held with the President to discuss future measures in this regard.