– The Cabinet has approved a proposal to sell part of the paddy stocks currently held by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) in order to create storage space and generate funds for upcoming paddy purchases during the Yala season.

Addressing the media at the weekly Cabinet briefing, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the Board has stored nearly 115,000 metric tons of paddy purchased from farmers in warehouses across the country.

Authorities said a sufficient quantity of paddy will be retained as a safety stock, while the remaining stocks will be sold through a formal tender process.The proposal was submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation and received Cabinet approval this week.Officials noted that the move is aimed at ensuring adequate warehouse capacity and financial resources to continue purchasing paddy from farmers during the forthcoming Yala harvest season.