The All Ceylon Small and Medium Scale Mill Owners Association has raised concerns over the recent decision to increase the price of rice by 10 rupees per kilogram across several varieties. The association’s president, U.K. Semasinghe, emphasized that this increase, reached through discussions between rice mill owners and the President, should not become an opportunity for large-scale rice mill owners to further increase their profits at the expense of consumers.
Addressing the media, Semasinghe explained that the gazetted prices for rice were previously set at 210 rupees per kilogram for raw rice, 220 rupees for Nadu rice, 230 rupees for Samba rice, and 260 rupees for Keeri Samba rice. Under the new decision, the prices for raw rice, Nadu rice, and Samba rice will rise by 10 rupees per kilogram, while the price of Keeri Samba rice remains unchanged.
Semasinghe criticized the price increase, stating that instead of raising prices, the government should have intensified efforts to regulate and monitor rice sales to prevent exploitation by large-scale mill owners. He called on the Consumer Affairs Authority to begin immediate raids on shops and mills to ensure compliance with the regulations and prevent further burden on consumers.
He warned that without strict enforcement, the price hike could lead to widespread injustice for consumers, as large mill owners stand to profit significantly. Semasinghe stressed that action must be taken to uphold fairness in the market and protect the public from exploitation.
The rice price increase has sparked concern among small and medium-scale rice mill owners, who fear that it may lead to further monopolization of the market by larger operators, while consumers face the brunt of the rising costs. The decision underscores the need for tighter regulatory measures and vigilant enforcement to ensure market stability and consumer protection.
