“Rathna Rice” Owner Mithrapala Invites Trade Minister to Inspect Facilities

Responding to the allegations, Mithrapala said, “I urge the Trade Minister to visit my company at any time. I can demonstrate the quantity of rice I have released, my production capacity, and the current stock levels.”

He clarified that maintaining stocks is a necessary part of ensuring a steady supply of rice in the market until the next harvest season.

“We don’t release all our rice stocks at once. My mill employs 1,000 workers, and I manage our reserves carefully to ensure daily production and market supply until February 1, when the next harvest begins. This strategy is essential to maintain consistent supply,” Mithrapala explained.

Meanwhile, many Economic Analysts have pointed out that large scale rice mill owners are operating as monopolies and price advantages are taken by third party dealers, which could hurt both farmers and consumers.

They believe the government needs to address this monopoly and third party dealers issue to ensure that rice remains affordable and that farmers receive fair compensation for their crops and ensure a steady supply of rice in the market.