The Hon. D.V. Chanaka

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, first, I wish the entire nation a Happy New Year and pray this Government gets the strength to implement the “Clean Sri Lanka” project and needed reforms.

¶ 02 On day one, I regret we already see the first major scam of this Government—the rice mafia. There is no red raw rice available; in the South especially, people mainly consume red raw rice. Although the controlled price is Rs. 225 per kilo, actual retail is around Rs. 280. This is not my number; this is the ground reality.

¶ 03 Government says the current market stock is from the last yala harvest and they are not responsible. Let me cite Central Bank Daily Price Reports: on 24 August, red raw rice retail was Rs. 210 in Pettah and Narahenpita. Two days before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assumed office, on 19 September, still Rs. 210. Under your “revival” Government, by mid-December, the Central Bank reports show Rs. 250 in Pettah and Narahenpita, while you say the controlled price is Rs. 225. Today, the Central Bank shows “Not available” for red raw rice—because there is none in the market.

¶ 04 Beyond shortages, consider the mafia’s skim. Daily national requirement is about 6,500 MT. Selling at Rs. 250 versus a controlled Rs. 225 is Rs. 25 extra per kilo. That is roughly Rs. 6.5 million per day; over December alone about Rs. 4,875 million stolen from the people.

¶ 05 Wasantha Samarasinghe once said when eggs fell from Rs. 35 to 25, the Minister’s commission fell. If red raw rice rose from Rs. 210 to Rs. 250, which Minister pocketed the difference? We allege Rs. 4,875 million last month alone.

¶ 06 Further, in rice imports, there is a Rs. 1.87 billion scam. Government deliberately mishandled tenders. If rice is imported via Sathosa, it must be sold through Sathosa at the controlled Rs. 220. But the Department of Census and Statistics reports imported rice sold at Rs. 240. Out of 85,000 MT imported, that Rs. 20 excess per kilo yields about Rs. 1.87 billion. Who took this commission? This is the first major scam of this Government. The Public Security Minister is here; please investigate where these billions went.

¶ 07 Thank you.