BY Shamindra Ferdinando

Dudley Sirisena, who owns one of the biggest rice mills in the country, yesterday (19) alleged that the government lacked the will to implement price control on selected varieties of rice. He said, as it seemed indifferent to the growing crisis, he felt the need to take a stand. But, the government was yet to support his initiative, he added.President of Rice Millers’ Association and Chairman of Araliya Group, Sirisena, one of those widely accused of manipulating the market, said in answer to a question posed by The Island on his declaration on Saturday that he would ensure the millers released adequate stocks of rice to the market to help the government implement price stability. Addressing the media in Colombo, Sirisena said that other millers had no option but to follow him.Sirisena said that a kilo of Nadu rice would be sold at Rs. 220, a kilo of Samba at Rs. 230 and a kilo of Keeri samba at Rs. 260 set by the government.

However, in response to another query, Sirisena said that some millers appeared to have opposed his suggestion and were challenging the government on price control, emphasizing the responsibility of the government to intervene decisively to maintain price controls.Sirisena explained on Saturday there were sufficient stocks of rice for the next few months. Declaring they could manage till mid-September, he suggested that the people should reduce consumption of rice to an extent as part of the overall measures to face the crisis situation.

Declaring all essential items were short of supply, amidst continuing blackouts, Sirisena warned soon there wouldn’t be anything.Commenting on Parliament, the maverick businessman alleged that all 225 members of Parliament hadn’t been able to address the grievances of the people. The businessman said that those so-called lawmakers only boasted but did nothing to serve the people.  Asked whether his statement applied to his brother, former President and SLPP MP Maithripala Sirisena, an irate Dudley Sirisena pointed out that he referred to 225 MPs in Parliament. Therefore, there was no need to mention his brother separately, the businessman said, adding that certainly his brother was among the group he referred to.All useless 225 lawmakers in the current Parliament wanted to be the next President. There was no limit to their ambitions, he said.

Responding to a query on the relationship between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe against the backdrop of Maithripala Sirisena’s recent declaration that the President and the PM were on a collision course, Dudley Sirisena strongly criticized the UNP leader. The businessman said that Wickremesinghe betrayed the yahapalana administration within weeks after the 2015 presidential election by engineering Central Bank bond scams. Alleging that Wickremesinghe ruined the Yahapalana administration, Dudley Sirisena questioned the absurdity in them having to give into the dictates of Wickremesinghe and the likes of the UNP leader.Referring to the ongoing Galle Face protest campaign, Dudley Sirisena compared the current situation with that of the 2012/2013 period. According to him, Maithripala Sirisena realized the need for a political struggle at that time to free the country from the Rajapaksa rule but the operation couldn’t be brought to a successful conclusion in spite of 2015 change of government because Wickremesinghe protected the crooks.

Dudley Sirisena said that he wouldn’t succumb to political pressure under any circumstances. The businessman declared his support for the ongoing protest campaign.Dudley Sirisena urged the people to demand traders to follow price control and lodge complaints with the police. The businessman urged officials to take a stand on behalf of the hapless people.