Govt. to release rice stocks via Sathosa

• Cabinet orders district secretaries and GAs to start releasing paddy 
• Rice to be distributed via Sathosa outlets to counter shortages 
• Shortages worsened after Govt. imposed maximum retail price

In an effort to counter increasing rice prices and shortages, Cabinet has given approval for District Secretaries and Government Agents (GAs) to begin releasing paddy stocks via Sathosa outlets countrywide. 

The Government Information Department yesterday said the paddy stocks owned by the Paddy Marketing Board will be utilised for this purpose.   

“Given the current rice shortage in the market and the owners of rice mills unable to supply sufficient rice stocks under the controlled price, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to take necessary measures to sell paddy stocks in the possession of the District Secretaries and GAs and paddy stocks owned by the Paddy Marketing Board through Sathosa outlets to consumers under the controlled price,” the statement from the Department said. 

Earlier this month the Government issued a gazette imposing a maximum price on white/red samba of Rs. 94 per kg, while the maximum price of white/red raw samba was Rs. 94 per kg, and white/red nadu was Rs. 92 per kg. White/red raw rice was to be sold at Rs. 89 per kg. 

However, the Opposition criticised the Government’s move pointing out that the price control was ineffective, as they caused shortages in the market with farmers refusing to release stocks at the controlled prices. 

Opposition Parliamentarian Dr. Harsha de Silva last week said the actual retail price of samba rice in the market was around Rs. 125 per kilogram (kg) and the actual retail price of nadu rice was between Rs. 105-110 per kg. Meanwhile, the actual retail price of keeri samba rice is between Rs. 140-150 per kg and the actual retail price of raw rice is between Rs. 100-110 per kg. 

Last month, the Government also ordered large stocks of rice to be bought from the market to be stored to counter higher prices typically seen towards the year end, particularly around Christmas and New Year.