New rice MRPs re-gazetted with local rates

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) today re-issued a new Maximum Retail Price (MRP) order for three varieties of rice, with the inclusion of locally milled rice.
 
“The locally milled rice has not been included in our 8 February MRP order. We have now included local rice as well so that our millers can now get fair price. I also warn errant sellers who violate the MRPs,” Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said.
 
The order issued today (17 February) and has now been sent to be gazetted, and becomes effective from today 17 February itself. It invalidates the Gazette 2015/24 of 8 February, the ministry said in a statement. 

The order No 42 dated February 17, is issued by CAA Chairman under Consumer Affairs Authority Act No 9 of 2003’s section 20(5).  
 
MRPs of “imported” three varieties of rice remains the same as the previous Gazette-the only new MRP addition being the prices of locally milled rice of same three varieties.

According to February 17 order sent to be gazetted, new MRPs for Nadu, Raw Rice and Samba shall be as follows; MRP of a kilo of imported Nadu rice is Rs 72 (unchanged), locally milled Nadu Rs 80, a kilo of imported Raw (Kekulu) rice is Rs 70 (unchanged) locally milled Raw Rs 78,   and a kilo of imported Samba (excluding Keeri Samba and Suduru Samba) is Rs 80 (unchanged) and locally milled Samba (excluding Keeri Samba and Suduru Samba) is Rs 90 per kilo.

Minister Bathiudeen added: “More imports are arriving and rice crisis is over. Still, consumers are requested to call our hotline 1977 to complain any errant rice sales anywhere from Sri Lanka. 250 officers of CAA are monitoring the shops across the country.”