Rice producers deliberately create artificial shortages every year during the festive season, and criticized the government for failing to address the recurring problem, the National Farmers’ Union said.
Union Chairman Anuradha Tennakoon said, “The government is very silent in front of Dudley. In this rice crisis, Dudley is doing the government’s laundry. Wasantha Samarasinghe has only one solution for this: rice imports. Does the government need a Trade Minister and an Agriculture Minister for that? Give all of that to Dudley.”
He also drew attention to the significant disparity between prices paid to farmers and consumer prices, noting that dried paddy was purchased at Rs. 110-112 per kilo, while raw paddy was bought at Rs. 80-90.
Tennakoon’s comments come amid growing concerns over rising rice prices and supply issues during the festive season.
