Millers increase rice and paddy purchase prices

Hours after the government decided to revoke a gazette notification issued on the maximum retail price of rice, the prices of rice shot up sharply.

Accordingly, a Kilogram of Nadu rice has risen to Rs 115 while Samba went up Rs 140 per kg.  The price of Keeri Samba was selling at Rs 165 to 175 per kg.

Earlier, the government had imposed price controls of rice through a gazette notification, but rice shortages were experienced in the markets with some of the traders withdrawing from rice sales.

However, hours after the announcement that the government controls on rice prices were removed  the Pettah wholesale businessmen were busy with releasing stocks to traders.

The increased rice prices were issued by large-scale rice trader Dudly Sirisena in Polonnaurwa.

The paddy millers in Polonnaruwa also have announced that the purchase prices of paddy too have been increased. Accordingly a kilogram of Nadu has been increased to Rs 62.50, Kilogram of Samba to Rs 70 and Keeri Samba to Rs 80.

(Pix by Indika Handuwala)

A shop in 5th Cross Street, Pettah on September 14

The same shop today (September 28)