The Cabinet of Minister has approved a proposal to convert 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy held by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) into rice and release it to the market.
The decision follows a recommendation made at a meeting of the Food Policy and Security Committee held on July 22. The move is intended to facilitate the government’s paddy purchasing programme while increasing the availability of rice in the market.
Under the programme, Lanka Sathosa will invite expressions of interest from rice millers registered with the PMB to process the 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy.
Accordingly, rice will be supplied in 5kg, 10kg, 25kg and 50kg packs, according to a statement issued by the Department of Government Information.
A Price Committee comprising officials from the PMB, Lanka Sathosa, the National Institute of Post Harvest Management and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute will determine the paddy-to-rice conversion ratio and the appropriate selling price.
The rice will subsequently be distributed through Lanka Sathosa, cooperative outlets and private-sector traders.
The Cabinet approved the joint proposal submitted by the Ministers of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development.
