The ongoing red rice shortage has particularly impacted the Hindu community, which is struggling to obtain the essential ingredient needed for upcoming Thai Pongal celebrations.
As the festival approaches, many Hindus are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the red rice required for their traditional rituals and offerings.
Deputy Minister of Food Security R.M. Jayawardana attributed the shortage to previous rice distribution policies that were politically motivated.
He highlighted that distributing red rice bags to individuals who already had sufficient supplies had only worsened the situation.
Jayawardana stressed the importance of better planning and the implementation of sustainable policies to support local farmers and stabilise market dynamics, with the goal of preventing such shortages in the future.
Speaking during a visit to a storage complex in Pannegamuwa, Lunugamvehera, the Deputy Minister assured that the Government was committed to resolving the red rice shortage starting this year.
“Historically, Sri Lanka has not faced a red rice shortage. However, in recent years, farmers shifted away from red rice cultivation due to low prices and limited market opportunities, opting for white rice and high-demand varieties like keeri samba,” he explained.
He further stated that when the problem had been identified, the Government had attempted to purchase red rice along with the private sector but could not locate red rice for purchase from India.
However, he also expressed optimism regarding a resolution to the problem: “By the end of January, paddy will be cut in Ampara. The red kekulu shortage will be resolved by then.”
All-Island Small- and Medium-Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association President B.K. Ranjith stressed that storage imbalances and poor distribution planning were key factors behind the shortage.
“Small-scale traders are struggling as most storage facilities are controlled by large-scale mill owners who maintain stocks for long-term distribution. The Government’s welfare programmes increased red rice consumption but depleted available stocks, leaving only large-scale traders with reserves,” he noted.
Commenting on the protests by traders opposing the trade practices of mill owners, Ranjith claimed that the problem was not of the large-scale traders.
“Large-scale entrepreneurs of rice usually have a stock of rice stored for future distribution over 6-10 months. But small-scale entrepreneurs do not have such storage capacity and therefore there is no more available stock,” he explained.
Ranjith also dismissed allegations of stock hoarding, stating: “These are not hidden stocks; they are reserves stored for future distribution. Accusations of hoarding, like those made during the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government, fail to address the real issue. This is an open economy, and long-term planning, not knee-jerk reactions, is needed to stabilise the market.”
“Rice shortages occur predictably every year and it’s time to adopt a proactive approach rather than resorting to short-term fixes,” Ranjith added.