Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna
2026-03-04
Hon. Susantha Kumara Nawarathna directed a multi-part question to the Prime Minister concerning the Government's paddy procurement arrangements for the 2025/2026 Maha season. He sought specific information on guaranteed purchase prices by variety, the mechanisms in place to ensure fair pricing for farmers, and the total funds allocated for the purchasing programme. Additionally, he requested details on the number of operational purchasing centres under the Paddy Marketing Board broken down by district, and an account of any new policy measures introduced to address problems experienced during the previous season's paddy procurement.
Hon. Speaker, my question to the Hon. Prime Minister is as follows, regarding the harvesting and purchase of paddy in the 2025/2026 Maha season:
1. Please state the guaranteed prices fixed by the Government for the purchase of paddy, by variety, for the 2025/2026 Maha season.
2. What mechanisms are being followed by the Government to ensure that paddy is purchased from farmers at fair prices during the 2025/2026 Maha season?
3. What is the total amount of funds allocated for the paddy purchasing programme for the 2025/2026 Maha season?
4. How many purchasing centres, by District, are operating under the Paddy Marketing Board and through Government intervention?
5. What new policy measures have been introduced to minimise the issues encountered in the previous season’s paddy purchases?