Sri Lanka's Cabinet has approved converting 30,000 metric tons of paddy held by the Paddy Marketing Board into rice, which will be distributed through multiple channels to support government procurement efforts.
The Cabinet of Ministers has authorized the conversion of 30,000 metric tons of paddy owned by the Paddy Marketing Board into processed rice, following recommendations made at the Food Policy and Security Committee meeting in late July. The decision aims to facilitate the government's paddy procurement operations while ensuring rice availability in the market.
Under the approved plan, the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment will oversee the conversion process by inviting expressions of interest from registered rice mill operators. The processed rice will be packaged in multiple sizes—5kg, 10kg, 25kg, and 50kg—to cater to different consumer and commercial needs.
A specialized pricing committee has been established to determine appropriate conversion rates and market prices for the rice. The committee will include representatives from the Paddy Marketing Board, Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, Lanka Sathosa Ltd, the National Institute of Post-Harvest Management, and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.
Once processing is complete, the rice will be distributed through multiple channels, including Lanka Sathosa Ltd, the Co-operative Network, and private sector outlets, ensuring broad market accessibility.
