The Paddy Marketing Board has succeeded in purchasing a record 55,000 metric tons of paddy.

Under this year's Maha season paddy purchasing activities, the Paddy Marketing Board has so far succeeded in purchasing approximately 55,000 metric tons of paddy. Its Chairman, Mr. Manjula Pinnalanda, states that 139 centers belonging to the Paddy Marketing Board have already been prepared to systematically carry out these activities across the island.

A sum of 1000 crore rupees has been allocated as provisions to make the entire paddy purchasing process successful.

The largest quantity of the total paddy stock purchased has been reported from the Ampara district, and approximately 25,000 metric tons of paddy have already been purchased from other districts. In addition, paddy stocks are expected to be received from several other districts, including Polonnaruwa, in the future. The Chairman also points out that steps have been taken to provide relief to paddy-selling farmers by directly crediting the relevant funds to their bank accounts on the day following the purchase of paddy from them.

In addition to the intervention of the Paddy Marketing Board, paddy purchases are also being made through cooperative societies and the Sathosa institution, and a large quantity of paddy stocks has already been purchased by cooperatives. However, authorities request farmers to pay special attention to the fact that the government only purchases paddy with a moisture content of less than 14 percent. The Paddy Marketing Board further states that the paddy stocks purchased and collected in this manner are planned to be converted into rice in the future and then released to consumers at a price lower than the current guaranteed market price.