Rice wholesalers in Colombo’s Pettah market have halted the sale of Keeri Samba rice as producers are supplying the variety at prices higher than the government’s controlled maximum retail price of Rs. 260 per kilogram.
As a result, retailers too have stopped stocking Keeri Samba, raising concerns about limited consumer access and potential shortages in the coming days.
The United Rice Producers’ Association has urged the government to remove the price cap on Samba and Keeri Samba varieties, arguing that the fixed pricing is no longer viable given current market dynamics.
However, the Sri Lanka Small and Medium Scale Paddy Mill Owners’ Association has strongly opposed any move to lift the price controls.
The group accuses large-scale mill owners of engineering an artificial scarcity in order to drive up prices and maximise profits.
Amid the mounting tension, the National Farmers’ Union has also called for urgent government intervention to resolve the impasse and protect both producers and consumers from market distortions.
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