Tuesday Jul 14, 2026
Tuesday Jul 14, 2026
Monday, 13 July 2026 02:58 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
With harvesting for the 2026 Yala cultivation season now underway, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake has directed the Agriculture Ministry to immediately commence paddy procurement, while ensuring adequate storage capacity by clearing existing stocks and preparing warehouses to receive the new harvest.
The instructions were issued during a discussion on Yala season paddy procurement held last week at the Presidential Secretariat.
Dr. Kumanayake instructed officials to expedite the release of existing paddy stocks held in warehouses and coordinate with Sathosa to create sufficient storage space for the incoming harvest. He also stressed the need to begin procurement without delay to support farmers and maintain market stability.
Officials informed the meeting that around 475,000 hectares had been cultivated during the 2026 Yala season and that favourable weather conditions throughout the cultivation period had created the conditions for a successful harvest.
To facilitate purchases, the Treasury has allocated Rs. 6 billion for the Government’s 2026 Yala paddy procurement program. In addition, a further Rs. 10 billion has been made available through State banks as Odapana loans to support small and medium-scale rice mill owners in purchasing paddy.
Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Ministry Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe, informed that all arrangements had been finalised for the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to commence paddy purchases from 15 July, with operational preparations being carried out in collaboration with District Secretaries.
Highlighting the changing dynamics of the paddy market, Wickramasinghe said the Government’s concerns had shifted significantly over the past two years.
He noted that in 2024, the Government had urged rice mill owners not to increase paddy prices amid supply concerns. In contrast, the current priority is to ensure prices do not decline due to the anticipated bumper harvest.
According to Wickramasinghe, the stronger production recorded over the past one and a half years has fundamentally altered market conditions. He also observed that while the Government had appealed to farmers in 2024 to sell their harvest to the State with only a limited response, farmers are now waiting for the PMB to begin purchasing before deciding where to sell their paddy.
The meeting was also informed that the Government purchased Rs. 16 billion worth of paddy during the 2025 Yala and Maha seasons, significantly expanding State-held buffer stocks.
At present, the PMB holds approximately 120,000 tons of paddy in its warehouses. Tenders have already been called to release around 60,000 tons to the market, while arrangements have been made to supply a further 20,000 tons to Sathosa.
Officials also discussed expanding storage capacity ahead of the peak harvest by utilising facilities belonging to government institutions, including cooperative societies and the Department of Agrarian Development, while leasing additional warehouse space from the private sector where necessary.
