Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader and lawyer Udaya Gammanpila has alleged that Minister of Trade Wasantha Samarasinghe is the leader of the so-called “rice mafia.” Speaking at a media conference held at the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya headquarters, Gammanpila criticized the government’s handling of rice prices and accused the Minister of enabling an unfair market system.
During his remarks, Gammanpila pointed out that despite the President setting a maximum price of Rs. 230 per kilo of paddy, it continues to sell in the market for Rs. 240. He noted that last season, the price of a kilo of paddy was Rs. 170, allowing mill owners to secure a reasonable profit margin. Now, with the government-imposed maximum price, millers enjoy an unprecedented profit of Rs. 65 per kilo, while consumers see no relief in rice prices.
Gammanpila argued that previous governments countered such market manipulation by importing rice and selling it at lower prices, forcing local millers to reduce their prices. In contrast, the current government imposed a steep Rs. 65 tax on imported rice, effectively making its price equal to locally produced rice. This policy, he claimed, protects millers’ high profits and burdens consumers.
He proposed an alternative tax policy: reducing the tax on imported rice to Rs. 45, which would allow imported rice to be sold at Rs. 210 per kilo. This reduction, he argued, would compel local producers to lower their prices to compete. With further adjustments, he estimated the price of rice could eventually fall to Rs. 180 per kilo, providing much-needed relief to consumers.
Gammanpila did not mince words in his criticism, asserting that the Rs. 65 tax is the primary obstacle to reducing rice prices and directly benefits a select group of millers. “The biggest obstacle to the decline in rice prices today is the Rs. 65 tax on rice,” he said. “Therefore, it can be said without fear that the leader of the rice mafia is none other than the Minister of Trade, Wasantha Samarasinghe.”
The allegations have sparked heated debate, with critics questioning the government’s commitment to addressing rising food costs. Gammanpila’s comments have added fuel to growing public frustration over high rice prices, which continue to strain household budgets nationwide.
