Proprietor of Araliya Rice Mills Dudley Sirisena yesterday said the failure of Rural Economic Affairs Minister P.Harrison to release rice stocks held by the government to the market in a proper manner has triggered a rise in rice prices.
He charged that the minister has not released the rice stocks held by Paddy Marketing Board by following the proper tender procedure even after the President and Prime Minister had decided to release them to the market.
He said that rice mill owners have adequate stocks of Samba and Keeri Samba to meet the country’s requirement till April though they lack stocks of Nadu rice.
Sirisena added that government has stored large stocks of Nadu rice in its stores. “It is very unfair to point fingers at me and other rice mills owners. This issue would never arise,if the government has a viable programme to issue paddy stocks to rice mill owners to be processed.