Former Director of Agriculture K.B. Gunaratne has publicly refuted claims made by prominent rice businessman Dudley Sirisena, who stated that the government is responsible for the recurring rice crisis in the market. Gunaratne asserts that Sirisena, along with four other large-scale mill owners, is actually contributing to the problem. He highlighted that in the past, rice was frequently sold above the controlled price, leading to shortages of certain varieties.
In response to the situation, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened a meeting with the major rice producers on October 24, where he urged them to sell rice at the controlled price. While the producers agreed to this request, both traders and consumers are now alleging that the market still faces shortages and that rice is not being sold at the agreed price.
Compounding the issue, it has been reported that more than a week after the President instructed for an immediate data report on paddy and rice stocks, the report has yet to be submitted. M.M. Naimuddin, the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, stated that the data report is still under preparation and is expected to be delivered to the President by November 6. This delay has raised further concerns about the management of rice stocks and the government’s ability to address the crisis effectively.
Why not make Dudley the minister of agricultural minister? He’ll come up with the solution.