COLOMBO : The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) will commence purchasing paddy for the 2026 Yala cultivation season on Monday, July 13, with the first procurement centre opening in Uhana, Ampara, PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda announced.
Speaking at a media briefing held today (10) at the Department of Government Information, the Chairman said paddy harvesting has already begun in many parts of the country, and procurement centres will be opened in major harvesting areas.
Accordingly, paddy will be purchased through 143 storage facilities across the island. If Government warehouses reach full capacity, nearby private warehouses will also be utilised. He added that several rice mill owners and private institutions have agreed to provide warehouse facilities free of charge.
Under the Government’s guaranteed price scheme, Nadu paddy will be purchased at Rs. 120 per kilogram, Samba at Rs. 130 per kilogram, and Keeri Samba at Rs. 140 per kilogram. The purchased stocks will be added to the Government’s strategic paddy reserve.
Harvesting has already commenced in several areas, including the Northern and Eastern Provinces, Ampara, Mullaitivu and Trincomalee.
The Government has allocated Rs. 6 billion to the Paddy Marketing Board for the procurement programme, while the Department of Agrarian Development will oversee the purchasing process.
The Chairman also noted that small and medium-scale paddy buyers may purchase paddy at the Government’s guaranteed prices.
He emphasised that the PMB will purchase only paddy that meets the required quality standards. Paddy must have a moisture content of 14% or less, less than 9% immature grains, and will also be assessed for colour and overall quality before purchase.
