The president of the Araliya Group, Mr. Dudley Sirisena, has announced that large-scale rice mill owners have agreed to release rice to the market at government-controlled prices, effective immediately.
Mr. Sirisena stated, “In support of the efforts being made by the President for the betterment of the country, we have decided to sell all varieties of rice at the government-mandated price starting today.”He further explained that he had discussions with key figures in the industry, including Mr. New Ratna and the Nipuna Movement, who have also agreed to this initiative. “I urge the entire trade community to cooperate with this decision so that we can collectively ensure rice is sold at controlled prices from today. However, this support will only continue until January 20,” he added.
He also highlighted the timing of this decision, noting that a new harvest is expected to enter the market soon. “As the new harvest arrives, we will need updated pricing for both paddy and rice during the upcoming ‘Maha’ season. That is our focus moving forward”. This move is seen as a crucial step in ensuring rice remains affordable for consumers while supporting the stability of the agricultural sector.
