Ample stocks of rice for Avurudu

by Mohammed NAALIR

Over 20,000 metric tons of rice have been released to the open market during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year season, Cooperative and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said.

The Government has taken this decision to meet the additional demand for rice in the market during the festive season, the Minister said.

Minister Fernando expressed confidence that there won't be a shortage of rice in the open market during the season

According to the Minister, the Government purchased 180,000 metric tons of paddy from farmers during the last season. Forty thousand metric tons of paddy have been converted into rice.

The Minister said the Government inaugurated the Maha season paddy purchasing program from Kilinochchi and 1,500 metric tons of paddy have been purchased from various parts of the country so far.

The Government hopes to purchase 150,000 metric tons of paddy from the Maha season paddy harvest. A kilo of nadu and red rice are purchased at the controlled price of Rs. 28 while a kilo of samba rice is sold at Rs. 30, Minister Fernando said.