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Rice prices bubble and boil over causing heartburn
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Rice prices have increased by Rs 5 and 10
Homemakers fear household expenses will be further stretched and restaurants are preparing for price increases after dominant private rice millers announced their own prices for rice, the day after controls were lifted in the wake of artificial shortages created by the trade.
Also, domestic gas prices are expected to soar further. State owned Litro is demanding Rs 2,800 for a 12 kilo domestic gas canister.
Colombo’s restaurant operators and lunch packet makers are considering price increases.
“Whether it is lunch or dinner, prices of food ranging from flavour-packed fried rice to a simple rice and curry, will definitely increase. Higher gas prices will further push all of us to go for a price increase. It’s sad, but a staple meal will be costly,” president of Colombo City Restaurant Collective, Harpo Gooneratne told the Sunday Times.
Restaurant owners are mulling price increase. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The same concern was expressed by managers of a Chinese restaurant in Colombo and a Sri Lankan food serving family restaurant in Nugegoda.
Many food outlets have considered increasing the price of a rice and curry or a packet by between Rs 20 and Rs 50.
Leading mill owner Dudley Sirisena, who owns Araliya Rice “the largest rice mill in Sri Lanka’’, in Polonnaruwa, last week said the prices of rice varieties such as nadu, samba and keeri samba would be increased to Rs. 115, Rs. 140 and Rs. 165 a kilo, respectively.
In most shops the price matched what was announced by the trade. Some have raised prices by between Rs 5 and Rs 10.
According to the Census and Statistics Department, last year during this time, nadu was sold at Rs. 99 per kilo and samba at Rs. 103.
The owner of Indunil Rice Shop at the Narahenpita Economic Centre, said once price controls were revoked, stocks of keeri samba and samba started coming in.
Price of lunch packets also set to rise
Canteen operators are predicting worse to come.
“This will be worse once the prices of gas, milk powder and wheat flour increase. We can’t lose customers if we increase exorbitantly, so all canteen owners, small food shop owners, lunch packet makers will continue to suffer financially,” said Asela Sampath of the Canteen Owners Association.
While cancelling the maximum controlled price of rice, the Cabinet also decided to import 100,000 metric tons of rice.
The government claimed this would be to maintain a buffer stock to prevent any severe shortage. But monthly rice consumption in the country itself is 195,000 MT according to Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s own estimates.
Champika Suraweera, a housewife from Ragama said rice had always been the cheaper meal option during had times, but no so any longer.
“Preparing a meal with increased rice price, gas cost and pricey vegetables is a struggle,” she lamented.
Housewives Association President Dianne Rizvi said rice price increases will affect women in rural and urban areas.