The mill owners’ press conference on the issue of rice prices turned into a conflict today.

 During a media briefing held at the Jaic Hilton Hall in Colombo, a heated situation arose between Mithrapala Lankeshwara, the owner of New Ratna Rice, the owner of the paddy mill, and Dudley Sirisena, the owner of Araliya Rice.

Dudley Sirisena says that rice will be sold at the government-controlled price for the next three months and that the government should take over Rice mills which do not sell rice at the controlled price. He said the government should raid the mills that do not sell rice at the controlled price and take over the stocks of paddy.

New Ratna rice owner Mithrapala Lankeshwara addressed the media when he said that rice could not be given at the controlled price Dudley Sirisena disrupted the rally in front of all media cameras, saying, “We have to give the people a low price, You to stand up.”