News Today: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake confirms that the controlled price of rice will not change

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake affirmed that the controlled price of rice will remain unchanged, despite concerns over rising consumer goods costs. In a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat with rice millers and officials from the Department of Agriculture, the President emphasized that rice millers had purchased paddy from farmers based on the established controlled price, and altering the price now would be unfair to consumers and farmers alike.

President Dissanayake also outlined plans for a long-term, organized agricultural programme aimed at providing more sustainable benefits to farmers. This initiative will focus on improving the agricultural sector and ensuring fair prices for rice, benefiting both the farmers and consumers.

During the discussion, participants highlighted the importance of controlling rice prices since it is a staple food in Sri Lanka. The President acknowledged that rice prices have been artificially inflated due to the lack of enforcement of controlled prices over the long term. He urged the creation of a formal mechanism to ensure fair pricing that protects both farmers and consumers.

As the government works to stabilize prices, the President emphasized that efforts will be focused on ensuring the affordability of rice, while also safeguarding the interests of the agricultural sector.