Letters to the Editor
View(s):Ordinary Lankans caught between empty political rhetoric and rice mafia
The soaring prices of everything under the sun in general and rice in particular, is a cause of concern for the majority of citizens.
The so-called people’s representatives designated as ministers to bring rice prices down are conveniently accusing a purported rice mafia for arbitrary price increases. Adding insult to injury, is the fact that importing rice at intervals seems to be the only solution that these ministers could possibly think of. As is often the case, previous regimes too adopted the same temporary strategy to control and contain prices, which of course benefited mostly many in the government rice importing establishment while the hapless consumers had chemically preserved imported rice, part of which later found its way to breweries and as animal feed.
It is shameful for any government to allow its vulnerable citizens to be at the mercy of any kind of mafia in general and a rice mafia in particular, as rice and curry is the staple diet of all Sri Lankans. It defies all logic as to why rice imports are to be made by the govt. instead of exposing this unruly mafia.
This is yet to happen and very unlikely too in spite of the political rhetoric. In short, on the one hand a few big time rice millers are dictating prices and on the other a majority of people are going through untold hardships.
It is high time for a well-planned strategy to meet this challenge head-on by taking over rice distribution and channelling it through the CWE and the cooperative network. That apart, in the mid-term, a joint public/private venture to establish a few large mills in areas such as Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Batticaloa, Anuradhapura etc., to mill and process paddy should be undertaken, to negate the monopoly of the rice millers.
A marked change in the supply chain should also be made to work out practical solutions for this periodic rice and price crisis.
M.R. Pathirage Kolonnawa
Dual citizens and double standards
The new Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapaksa will, no doubt, receive all the emoluments that a Sri Lankan Minister is entitled to, even though he is a dual citizen.
However, while Sri Lankan senior citizens are eligible to receive a 15% return on an investment of Rs 1.5 million, this privilege is denied to Sri Lankans seniors who are dual citizens.
Perhaps the Minister of Finance will rectify this discrimination and double standard. Or is it too much to expect?
A very senior dual citizen Via email