Heavy fines on errant rice mill owners

Irangika Range

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) earned Rs. 6.8 million from errant rice mill owners who bought paddy from the PMB on the basis of converting the stocks to rice but had not done so. They were detected during raids conducted by PMB officials with Police assistance.

During the raid, 11 errant mill owners who had not returned the rice milled from paddy given to them by the PMB, were nabbed. The PMB earned Rs. 3,289,684 as fines in the Wayamba region.

Meanwhile, rice mill owners in the Ampara region have been made aware by PMB Regional Managers to return the rice milled from paddy given to them by the PMB.

An errant mill owner arrested by the Police in Ampara was fined Rs. 1 million. Three rice mill owners in the Polonnaruwa region were arrested and fined Rs.2 million. Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando instructed officials to nab errant mill owners and prosecute them within 30 days and all monies due to the PMB to be recovered.