Consumers laud Govt’s decision to reduce rice prices

When the Sunday Observer interviewed people over the issue of rice prices, an employee of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority Saranapala de Zoysa lauded the Government for taking such a decision to protect consumers from blackmarketeers.

He said his cousin, Piyasena Perera, who is a rice trader in the Borella supermarket had purchased a large stock of Samba rice to the value of Rs. 130,000 before the New Year,”

“But, under the present regulations, he will have to sell the stock for Rs. 121,000 the loss being Rs. 8000”.

He therefore asked the authorities to think twice before imposing such regulations on commodity items such as rice because they are locally produced and not imported.

Trader in the Pettah market David Raj said the Government should have first imposed a law on rice mill owners, thereafter direct them not to sell their products beyond controlled prices.

“If it happened like that, both distributors and traders could sell rice according to the directive made by the Government”.

He said due to this decision, thousands of small scale rice traders face economic hardships.

Rice shop owner R. E. Mutthu said “Although consumers are fully benefitted with the Trade Ministry decision, this has become a nightmare to tens of thousands of rice traders in the country.

He said if rice mill owners at Marandagahamula or any other places reduce prices we also can sell samba even at a price less than Rs. 70, but after we purchased rice at higher prices it is unfair for the Government to announce a controlled price.

“As a result we have to run our business at a loss,” he lamented. Nandana Hettiaratchchi of Piliyandala said “I think this is a good decision taken by the Government to protect consumers, but at times I doubt whether this decision will last long”.

“However, I request all consumers to be vigilant over this price reduction which happened in the country for the first time and urged the authorities to keep this price reduction structure even until rice are being imported”.

Manju Weerasinghe of Kandy asked why the Government was unable to import rice before the New Year and sell them at cheaper rates.

“If this was done, the, Government should have not controlled the prices of rice,”. Gamunu Basnayaka of Ratnapura said “Although I personally welcome the Trade Minister for this price reduction, as a former director in the public service I think the Government is impractical over the price reduction structure.

“They should have imported rice and distributed through Lak Sathosa and co-operative outlets at a low cost, if so, without imposing any regulations, the prices of rice would come down automatically in the open market”.

He said he remembered the former Trade Minister Lalith Atulathmudali imported rice from Pakistan and distributed them through CWE and co-operative outlets at a time when the rice prices in the country had skyrocketed.

“As a result all rice mill owners were compelled to reduce their prices without Government intervention”.

Lecturer in the University, Shiranthi Hewage of Narahenpita said although the Government’s decision of imposing a controlled price for rice would benefit consumers, this decision has adverse effects on traders.

“Therefore, I think such a decision should have been announced thirty days before the price reduction so that all four sectors, the rice growers, mill owners, distributors and traders had enough time to take a decision over the rice prices,”.

She also asked the Government Ministers in various portfolios to consult economists, educationists, engineers and scientists in universities or any other relevant authorities when important and sensitive decisions are taken.

She said during his tenure in the Finance Ministry, former President R. Premadasa too sought the views of economists, doctors and engineers before any decision was taken.

Sri Kariyakarawana of Kotte landed Government for imposing a controlled price on rice as most traders are in the habit of blaming the Government over the price hike of rice in the Pettah market and making exorbitant profits from selling their stocks.

“I wish the Trade Ministry will impose controlled prices on dhal, onion and also wheat flour based products such as bread, buns and cakes,”.

School girl, Kumudini Hewawasa of Kelaniya said that in her area still traders do not adhere to the Government’s decision and sell rice at old prices. “But, unfortunately when I informed it to the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA) on telephone 011-2321696 as requested by the Minister on Thursday, no one took action although, they took down my complaint”.

Businessman, Sarath Subasinghe said “I welcome the Government’s decision, but in our area some traders sell rice at old prices, when I informed it to the police with the names of such shops and asked them to visit the places in civils, the police wanted me to come with them to crack down such traders.

“But, I refused on personal grounds,” he said.

[email protected]