News
Small-scale retailers and millers say rice business is no business
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Small-scale retailers say they are withdrawing from selling rice as they hardly make any profit.
They say the five-rupee profit margin was insufficient, as around three rupees is spent on the bag they offer customers to take home the rice they buy from them.
The Consumer Affairs Authority’s ongoing raids are acting as a deterrent to selling rice above the maximum price the government gazetted for retail and wholesale trade to overcome the shortage.
Retailers say the five-rupee profit margin was insufficient, as around three rupees is spent on the bag they offer customers to take home the rice they buy from them. Pix by Eshan Fernando
In yet another measure, the government also permitted the private sector to import rice until December 20 while Lanka Sathosa and Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation (STC) were also instructed to do so.
Lanka Sathosa chairman Samitha Perera told the Sunday Times that 55,000 MT of rice had reached the country through the private sector and Lanka Sathosa imports.
He added that another 1000 MT of imported rice will soon be distributed.
Dr. Perera said Sathosa received about 200 MT of local rice daily to be sold at its outlets at the controlled price.
In another development, small-time millers say they are closing their mills, claiming that they cannot continue milling activities as paddy prices are too high.
They say they are awaiting some kind of a resolution from President Anura Kumara Disanayake, as they have voiced their concerns at meetings with him.
Maradagahamulla Rice Producers Association president D.K. Ranjith told the Sunday Times that for the past three months, their mills had remained closed, as they were unable to mill rice given the high price of paddy.
“We cannot even cover our costs if we buy paddy for Rs 150 a kilo and convert it to rice, as even with the recently increased maximum retail prices, we are unable to make a profit,” he said.
He pointed out that until the next harvest, they are forced to close their mills if the situation persists, affecting not only their livelihoods but also those who work at these small-scale mills.
Meanwhile, Customs media spokesman Seevali Arukgoda said that the time frame given to the private importers to import rice from foreign countries ended Friday midnight.
Accordingly, the country received a total of 67,000 MT of rice. Out of the total, 28,500 MT were Kekulu rice, while the remaining 38,500 MT were Nadu.
He said all the imported rice would be cleared and distributed to the market today.
“As the time given for importation of rice expired Friday midnight, Sri Lanka Customs can only extend the time period for importation of rice and clear rice imports if a relevant gazette is issued,” he said.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!