LNP – ‘Kiribath’ in jeopardy as rice shortage hits

With the shortage of Nadu and white raw rice varieties in the market, Sri Lankans will find it difficult to prepare traditional milk rice to welcome the dawn of New Year, a trader said.

According to Maradagahamula Rice Traders’ Association’s member S.S. Ranasinghe, there is a severe shortage of such local rice varieties in the market. White raw variety is widely used to make Kiribath, a traditional meal prepared by people on the occasions of national festivals.

Earlier, in the wake of rice shortage and allegations about leading mill owners hoarding stocks, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake directed rice traders to sell Nadu rice to consumers at a wholesale price of Rs.225 per kilo and a retail price of Rs. 230 per kilo. These two mostly consumed varieties in the country. Rice is also the staple of Sri Lanka.

The government also removed restrictions on rice imports. So far, over 75,000 tonnes of rice have been imported.

However, there are complaints about shortages of some varieties because traders refuse to sell at regulated prices.

Mr. Ranasinghe said rice trading has been politicized. He said though the current government is not responsible for the shortage, it was not taking practical steps to address the issue.

“It is natural for rice prices and interest rates to increase in November, December and January. The absence of a proper mechanism to manage the crisis resulted in the current predicament. It is difficult for us to find local varieties to prepare milk rice for the New Year,” he said.

Traders also demand the reduction of import duty on rice, which is now Rs.65 a kilo.

Association’s President B.K. Ranjith said there is a severe shortage of raw rice and Nadu rice, and other varieties are also sold above the regulated price rates.

A spokesman for the Association of Essential Items Importers and Traders Association said sufficient stocks had been imported but wholesale traders are resultant to purchase because of price controls in retail trading.

“We have imported enough stocks and stored them. Yet, wholesalers are hesitant to buy because of price controls,” he said.