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Opposition parties slam Government over rice policy reversal

30 Sep 2021

  • Govt. less powerful than rice mill owners: SJB
  • Pledges to farmers nothing but theatrics: JVP
By Buddhika Samaraweera Both the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Opposition parties heavily criticised the Government over its decision to revoke the gazette notification stipulating a maximum retail price (MRP) on rice. Speaking to the media on Wednesday (29 September), SJB MP Tissa Attanayake charged that the revocation of the relevant gazette notification came as a great defeat to the Government, as it reflects that rice mill owners and businessmen are more powerful than the President and the Government. “Rice mill owners did not issue rice until these control prices were removed. They threatened the Government that they would not engage in the rice business until the relevant gazette notification was revoked. Despite having a President with more executive powers following the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, and a powerful Government, they have still failed to influence the rice mill owners and businessmen,” he claimed. He noted that the people had hoped for relief from the Government, adding however that the present Government has failed to provide even the most essential food items to the people: “What people expect from any Government is some relief, especially during a time like this. However, the current Government has failed to provide the people with essential food items.” Similarly, JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the media on Wednesday that the Government’s previous decision to impose an MRP on rice and conduct raids on hoarders was nothing but a set of theatrics. “The true nature of these people has been revealed. Not only did the gazette notifications go out, but President Gotabaya Rajapaksa went to the shops and displayed theatrics in front of the media, saying that they have the database. Basil Rajapaksa says that if the mill owners do not like to sell rice at the mandated price, the Government will obtain the mills,” stated Dissanayake. “The Minister of Agriculture keeps on making allegations that there is a rice mafia in the country and that rice will not be imported from overseas, but they imposed a control price and farmers sold the rice for a meagre profit of only Rs. 40 with tears in their eyes. The Government threatened the farmers by saying that the fertiliser concession would not be granted if the stocks of paddy were not sold. Now, the price of rice is in the hands of the rice mill owners.” The Cabinet of Ministers, at its weekly meeting held on 27 September, had decided to cancel the MRPs on rice, and Co-operative Services, Marketing Development, and Consumer Protection State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna recently said that the reason for the revocation of said gazette on the MRP on rice was in the interests of the consumer. “A decision to revoke the MRPs on rice was made at the Cabinet meeting on 27 September. The reason we made this decision is so that the consumer is protected. We made the decision to import 100,000 metric tonnes (MT) of rice as well. This was not something we wanted to do, but had to do while thinking of the consumer and not the rice mill owners,” claimed Alagiyawanna. The President recently declared emergency regulations under the Public Security Ordinance as amended, and appointed a Commissioner General of Essential Services to ensure the supply of essential items.  


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