Paddy storage facility for Sri Lanka’s North, more in pipeline

Jan 30, 2017 (LBO) - Sri Lanka opened a state-run paddy store in Mannar to cater to the Northern region which can store 10,000 metric tonnes at cost of 2.6 billion rupees, the Ministry of Industries and Commerce said.

"Farmers in this area faced may difficulties including a 30 year war, and now we are giving them the opportunity to use this storage and sell their paddy at guaranteed prices," Rishard Bathiudeen, Minister of Industries and Commerce said.

"Because even though a guaranteed price for paddy was given by the government there was an issue with the storage earlier." Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake who was at the opening ceremony said that 35 more stores would be built island-wide. 'We want to improve the facilities in this region and this is only a first step, more development initiatives are planned," he added.