Ministers get tongue tied as rice mafia rides high

After having been humiliated by the “rice mafia” that they once pledged would be brought to heel, Government Ministers have nowhere left to hide to save themselves from embarrassment. Everywhere they go, ministers have to field uncomfortable questions from journalists over the way the Government rescinded its gazette notification on the maximum retail price of rice and ultimately allowed the rice mafia to dictate the country’s paddy and rice prices.

In some instances, ministers have opted to offer what are increasingly seen as empty threats to take action against the large scale rice millers. Some have simply opted to remain silent.

State Minister of Settlements in Mahaweli Zones Siripala Gamlath and Lands Minister S M Chandrasena, who represent Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts – two of the main rice growing regions, found themselves in just such a situation on Friday when journalists asked why the Government rescinded the gazette.

State Minister Gamlath briefly appeared tongue tied in the face of the question before Minister Chandrasena stepped in to tell the journalist “Don’t ask him that question as it’ll put him in difficulty.” Mr Gamlath then parried the question to Mr Chandrasena, saying “I believe the Cabinet Minister is more qualified than me to answer that.”

However, when the question was put to him, Mr Chandrasena could only laugh uncomfortably, before telling journalists to “ask me something else.”

Silence, they seem to think, is the best policy, while the country looks on aghast.