A rice crisis has recently emerged in Sri Lanka, and the government has failed to provide a solution. Rice is our staple food, and as a nation we consume it three times a day. Since ancient times, Sri Lankan kings were focussed on making the country self-sufficient in rice. In the 1960s, 40% of the country’s rice needs were met through local production, while the remaining 60% was imported. However, due to the relentless efforts of the Department of Agriculture in the late 1960s and the introduction of new high-yielding paddy varieties, Sri Lanka was able to meet its domestic rice demand and lay the foundation for self-sufficiency. The country is home to over 3,000 varieties of paddy and cultivates paddy types that are adapted to different seasons, climates and soil conditions.
With the Green Revolution, Sri Lankan scientists, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, developed short-term, high-yield paddy varieties. These varieties responded well to chemical fertilizers and produced significantly higher yields. Notable among these are the Batalagoda, Ambalantota, Bombuwala, and Labuduwa varieties, which were specifically developed to suit various climatic zones and soil conditions. Among these, the Keeri Samba variety—known as BG 360—is considered the most superior. Sri Lankan scientists also developed other Samba varieties popularly known as BG 362, Basmati and Red Basmati, and the credit for these achievements goes to the Department of Agriculture. Keeri Samba gained immense popularity among the public for its taste, softness and high quality. According K.B Gunaratne, former Director of Agriculture Peradeniya, and the resource person for this article, these varieties are unique to Sri Lanka and are not produced anywhere else in the world.
Keeri Samba, especially sought after during festive seasons, is currently sold in the market at Rs. 320, though the government’s control price is Rs. 260. This price hike is due to only 12% of Keeri Samba being cultivated during last season, while 80% of the cultivation comprised the Nadu variety. As a result, mill owners are manipulating the market by restricting the supply of Keeri Samba, driving prices up. They know very well that there is no comparable alternative to Keeri Samba and that no substitute can be imported. This allows them to create an artificial shortage and increase the price. The only group that fails to understand this appears to be the government itself. In the past, two ministers boldly claimed they would import Keeri Samba during the shortage—unaware that rice is a uniquely local product with no real substitutes. Their ignorance was matched by that of their advisors and associates. The same can be said of the current government. Far from solving the rice crisis, none of the initiatives launched by the Ministry of Agriculture have been successful.
Failed campaigns and monkey business
First, a campaign to control monkeys was announced, yet not a single monkey has been driven back into the forest. Second, the Paddy Marketing Board claimed it would purchase 300,000 metric tons of paddy during the 2024/25 Maha season. In reality, only 55 metric tons were procured—which is less than 0.1% of the promised amount. Why do we continue to maintain institutions that cannot even meet a tenth of their targets?
The President once declared that 167 state institutions would be shut down, yet not a single one has been closed. The reason for this is that these institutions are filled with unqualified political henchmen who were rewarded with positions for helping bring the current administration to power. Third, a nationwide farming campaign was launched on February 15. However, neither the President and the Prime Minister, nor the relevant Cabinet Minister took part in it. The funds spent on posters and newspaper ads were a waste. The campaign failed to reach farmers, officials, or the general public. In the end, it was nothing more than a publicity stunt. The next farce was the monkey census. This monkey census was forced on the public, with people being asked to carry out the survey themselves. Globally, the standard practice is to train officials regarding the behaviour of the monkeys and deploy trusted teams to gather data. Such a task requires a time frame.
“I personally witnessed the census forms being discarded on the roadside. Some people even began blaming the government. Public frustration is rising—not over the monkey problem, but regarding the fact that prices keep rising instead of dropping. These sentiments are expressed not only by critics of the government, but also by those who once supported and voted for them. As a result, the data collected through this process is highly unreliable. A deputy minister of the current government said on the day of the census that officials hadn’t carried out their duties properly and that he would file a complaint with the District Secretary. This is clear evidence that even government politicians acknowledge the census data is inaccurate. Therefore, the results of this census cannot be trusted. It is deeply regrettable that the Ministry of Agriculture has become a laughingstock in the eyes of the public,” said Guneratne, adding that this has ultimately led to a rice crisis.
At present, 1.4 million schoolchildren in Sri Lanka are malnourished. According to government statistics, a family of four needs Rs. 120,000.00 per month just to meet basic food expenses. An additional Rs. 50,000.00 is needed for medicine, utility bills, education, healthcare, and other daily necessities. How is an average family expected to earn such an amount of money each month? This government was placed in power on the back of a thousand hopes, with promises of peace and prosperity for the people. Yet, there is no peace, nor prosperity, in sight. It is the fundamental duty of any government to reduce the cost of food—the most basic human need—and to eradicate hunger. To achieve this, a government must have a clear and focused action plan.
Swarna Nadu from India
During the recent rice crisis, the government decided at its very first cabinet meeting to import 70,000 metric tons of rice. As a goodwill gesture to the new administration, the Government of India offered to provide 70,000 metric tons of “Swarna Nadu” rice free of charge. However, this offer was rejected, and approval was given to import rice unconditionally instead. The reason for this decision remains unclear, raising public suspicion toward a government that claims it does not engage in corruption. The President had boldly declared that if a rice mafia existed, he would import rice from India and sell it at Rs. 135.00 per kilo. Despite calling rice mill owners to discussions on three separate occasions, they made no genuine effort to follow through. Eventually, the government raised the control price of rice from Rs. 220 to Rs. 230 without any engaging in any consultation. At the same time, the government imposed a tax of Rs. 65 per kilo of rice, earning approximately Rs. 10 billion in tax revenue. This clearly shows a lack of empathy or intent to provide relief to the people.
“Among the unconditionally imported rice was Basmati, and through this deal importers earned large profits. Who did the government enrich through this decision? Is this the policy of the government? Although the Ministry of Agriculture should play a key role in these decisions, its silence and passive stance is suspicious and suggests internal issues within the government that are beyond control,” said Gunaratne.
Ninety (90) countries cultivate paddy and work to ensure food security within their borders. 700 million metric tons of paddy are produced annually, with India being the largest producer. Even highly populated countries such as India, China and Japan meet their own rice requirements. Some paddy varieties in these countries yield as much as 8–9 metric tons per hectare. There are also rice varieties that can be harvested three times a year from the same paddy field. In Sri Lanka, it is commendable that experts at the Department of Agriculture have achieved yields of 5 to 5.5 metric tons per hectare. This level of production is sufficient to make the country self-sufficient in rice. However, due to poor planning by the government and the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has failed to fully benefit from this potential, Gunaratne pointed out.
Traditionally, a seasonal planning meeting is held before each cultivation season. The Minister of Agriculture, together with provincial agriculture ministers, secretaries, heads of relevant institutions, officials, and farmer leaders, participate in this meeting. During the meeting, they decide on the types and quantities of paddy, other field crops, fruits, and vegetables to be cultivated. The schedule for water release is also determined at this gathering. A number of important decisions are made during this meeting before the cultivation season, based on the country’s needs, and this is the formal procedure.
However, reports indicate that no such islandwide seasonal meeting has been held since 2017. Had this process been followed, the current rice crisis could have been better managed. In the 2024/25 Maha season, about 80% of the land was cultivated with Nadu, while the remaining land area was used for Keeri Samba and Samba. The month of April, which follows the Maha season, coincides with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Shouldn’t the authorities have the foresight to estimate the demand for Keeri Samba during this period and guide farmers accordingly? This is the tragedy the country faces. Both consumers and the farming community are suffering as a result. There is an established pattern of rice consumption in this island. People in the south generally consume red rice, those in the central region prefer Nadu and Samba, while people in the north primarily consume Nadu rice. Due to this regional pattern, the overall demand for Nadu is higher than that for Samba varieties. However, the demand for Samba—especially Keeri Samba—is increasing, largely because it is now widely used in hotels and restaurants.
Currently, Keeri Samba is being sold to shopkeepers by millers at Rs. 315 or Rs. 318 per kilo. Vendors then sell it at Rs. 320. But the government’s control price is Rs. 260. Traders risk being fined Rs. 100,000 for selling above the control price if raided by the Consumer Affairs Authority. This has made many traders reluctant to sell Keeri Samba. “In my view, a government with a two-thirds majority should pass laws to increase fines slapped for selling beyond the control price to one million rupees. That would prevent traders from selling rice at higher prices. When traders refuse to buy rice at higher prices, mill owners are unable to sell it, which would in turn pressure them to release it to the market at the control price. As the saying goes, “Don’t reinvent the wheel.”
The government has the power to take decisive action on this issue. Its failure to do so raises suspicions—suggesting there may be hidden motives that the public is not aware of. In time, the people themselves will deal with the very government they elected. Gunaratne stressed that the government must act wisely and avoid burdening the people.
“Among the unconditionally imported rice was Basmati, and through this deal importers earned large profits. Who did the government enrich through this decision? Is this the policy of the government? Although the Ministry of Agriculture should play a key role in these decisions, its silence and passive stance is suspicious and suggests internal issues within the government that are beyond control,” said Gunaratne.
Ninety (90) countries cultivate paddy and work to ensure food security within their borders. 700 million metric tons of paddy are produced annually, with India being the largest producer. Even highly populated countries such as India, China and Japan meet their own rice requirements. Some paddy varieties in these countries yield as much as 8–9 metric tons per hectare. There are also rice varieties that can be harvested three times a year from the same paddy field. In Sri Lanka, it is commendable that experts at the Department of Agriculture have achieved yields of 5 to 5.5 metric tons per hectare. This level of production is sufficient to make the country self-sufficient in rice. However, due to poor planning by the government and the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has failed to fully benefit from this potential, Gunaratne pointed out.
Traditionally, a seasonal planning meeting is held before each cultivation season. The Minister of Agriculture, together with provincial agriculture ministers, secretaries, heads of relevant institutions, officials, and farmer leaders, participate in this meeting. During the meeting, they decide on the types and quantities of paddy, other field crops, fruits, and vegetables to be cultivated. The schedule for water release is also determined at this gathering. A number of important decisions are made during this meeting before the cultivation season, based on the country’s needs, and this is the formal procedure.
However, reports indicate that no such islandwide seasonal meeting has been held since 2017. Had this process been followed, the current rice crisis could have been better managed. In the 2024/25 Maha season, about 80% of the land was cultivated with Nadu, while the remaining land area was used for Keeri Samba and Samba. The month of April, which follows the Maha season, coincides with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Shouldn’t the authorities have the foresight to estimate the demand for Keeri Samba during this period and guide farmers accordingly? This is the tragedy the country faces. Both consumers and the farming community are suffering as a result. There is an established pattern of rice consumption in this island. People in the south generally consume red rice, those in the central region prefer Nadu and Samba, while people in the north primarily consume Nadu rice. Due to this regional pattern, the overall demand for Nadu is higher than that for Samba varieties. However, the demand for Samba—especially Keeri Samba—is increasing, largely because it is now widely used in hotels and restaurants.
Currently, Keeri Samba is being sold to shopkeepers by millers at Rs. 315 or Rs. 318 per kilo. Vendors then sell it at Rs. 320. But the government’s control price is Rs. 260. Traders risk being fined Rs. 100,000 for selling above the control price if raided by the Consumer Affairs Authority. This has made many traders reluctant to sell Keeri Samba. “In my view, a government with a two-thirds majority should pass laws to increase fines slapped for selling beyond the control price to one million rupees. That would prevent traders from selling rice at higher prices. When traders refuse to buy rice at higher prices, mill owners are unable to sell it, which would in turn pressure them to release it to the market at the control price. As the saying goes, “Don’t reinvent the wheel.”
The government has the power to take decisive action on this issue. Its failure to do so raises suspicions—suggesting there may be hidden motives that the public is not aware of. In time, the people themselves will deal with the very government they elected. Gunaratne stressed that the government must act wisely and avoid burdening the people.
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