The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has called for tenders to sell a stock of 119,690 kgs of Keeri Samba paddy, which it had purchased during the 2024 Yala season.
As per a newspaper advertisement, the stock is being kept at the Paragahakele storage of the PMB in Ampara.
The PMB’s procurement committee is inviting bids by mill owners registered with it in 2024, with bid documents to be issued until 21 January.
The PMB says it reserves the right to make the final decision on releasing the stock.
Previously, its officials had claimed the PMB didn’t have any paddy stocks.
5,00 mt purchased in past 2 years – deputy minister
In the meantime, deputy minister of agriculture Namal Karunaratne said the state had purchased close to 5,000 metric tons of paddy only in the past two years.
In 2023, he said, 2,153 mt were bought during the Yala season, and 2,637 mt were purchased in 2024 Maha season, he told parliament yesterday (08).
Responding to a question by opposition MP Rohana Bandara, the deputy minister said the government intended to buy 300,000 mt of paddy this year.
(The Leader)
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