News
Deploying military to search hoarded rice sans intelligence a folly – FSP
By Anuradha Hiripitiyage
The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) says that deploying troops to search for hoarded rice by millers would not yield the desired results.
Addressing the media in Colombo yesterday (29), FSP Propaganda Secretary, Duminda Nagamuwa, highlighted that there had been numerous instances where governments failed to recover hoarded rice from rogue millers with the help of the military.
“The military should not be involved in this process. It is not politically appropriate either. We remember how Gotabaya’s attempt to deploy the military to inspect the mills failed. Therefore, we urge the government to create a new structure to inspect rice mills and warehouses,” Nagamuwa said.
Nagamuwa emphasised that the government should form village-level committees comprising representatives from farmer cooperatives and state officials to inspect rice mills. Members of such committees would have access to real grassroots data on the quantities purchased by millers and would be able to trace where those stocks are being hoarded, Nagamuwa said.
“The rice mill mafia continues to control the market even under this government, which is struggling to resolve the issue. The President claimed that the mills did not have large stocks. This is a laughable statement. In the last Yala and Maha seasons, Sri Lanka produced 4.6 million metric tons of rice. Normally, 3.7 million metric tons are sufficient for the country’s annual consumption. The surplus is used for animal feed, beer production, and other purposes. Even so, there should be leftover stocks. Sixty percent of the total cultivated area was used for paddy cultivation. Now, there is a shortage of Nadu rice in the country. This is impossible. A shortage of red rice could happen, but what we are seeing now is the result of a cartel created by four or five major mill owners.
“These large-scale mill owners release around 300,000 kilos of rice to the market daily. The country’s daily requirement is 600,000 kilos. There are twenty second-tier rice mills in Sri Lanka. They release around 100,000 kilos of rice to the market daily, which is 30% of the daily requirement. If the major mill owners, who currently release 300,000 kilos daily, reduce their release to 200,000 kilos and then to 100,000 kilos, a rice shortage will immediately occur and prices will rise. This is an artificially created situation.
“The government claims that the mills do not have excess rice without conducting proper inspections. The so-called inspections that have been conducted cannot yield the desired results. Ongoing inspections involve sending government employees to the gates of the mills, where they simply turn back without conducting any real checks. This method will not solve the problem. Therefore, we propose that the government form a joint committee comprising representatives from farmer cooperatives and state officials from various regions to inspect the mills.”
Three Sri Lankan male passengers who arrived from Muscat by flight no. OV 437 on Saturday (24) have been arrested by officers attached to the NCU at BIA as they were found to be carrying 12,306 grams of Cannabis class narcotics (suspected as Hashish & Kush) valued at 123 million rupees.
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
The Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’, which arrived in Sri Lanka for logistics replenishment and a goodwill mission, departed the island on 23 Jan 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the stay in Sri Lanka, crew members of the ship visited some popular tourist destinations within the city of Colomb
Three arrested with narcotics valued at Rs123 million at BIA
Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas
Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’ departs island
U19 World Cup: Japan defeat Tanzania by nine wickets
U19 World Cup: Ambrish’s four-fer powers India to third straight win
Josh Hoey breaks world 800m short track record with 1:42.50 in Boston
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Features7 days agoExtended mind thesis:A Buddhist perspective
-
Opinion6 days agoAmerican rulers’ hatred for Venezuela and its leaders
-
Business16 hours agoComBank advances ForwardTogether agenda with event on sustainable business transformation
-
Business4 days agoCORALL Conservation Trust Fund – a historic first for SL
-
Opinion4 days agoRemembering Cedric, who helped neutralise LTTE terrorism
-
Opinion3 days agoA puppet show?
-
Opinion6 days agoHistory of St. Sebastian’s National Shrine Kandana
-
Features5 days agoThe middle-class money trap: Why looking rich keeps Sri Lankans poor