News
PMB struggling with outdated infrastructure: Chairman
Chairman of Sri Lanka’s Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), Manjula Pinnalanda, has revealed that successive governments since the year 2000 have failed to provide necessary resources for modernising the PMB’s infrastructure and operations.
Pnnalanda said the PMB had only a single truck.
Highlighting critical challenges, Pinnalanda said, “For example, we can’t buy wet paddy. We can’t dry it, and we can’t store it. A lot of money is needed to buy dryers. For a long time, the PMB was just a name board with some empty storage units. Most of the stores were not maintained, and we also have a serious shortage of employees.”
Despite these difficulties, the PMB has been allocated Rs. 5 billion for paddy purchases this season. “We have instructed our officials to keep our stores in harvesting areas open from Friday. Harvesting has not begun in some areas, and we are currently cleaning the storage units in those regions,” Pinnalanda explained.
Pinnalanda expressed confidence in the board’s ability to meet current demands, stating, “I think we have prepared an adequate number of storage units to purchase the volume of paddy we want.” The PMB plans to purchase 5,000 kilos of paddy from each farmer but remains flexible to adjust this limit as necessary.
With preparations underway, the chairman’s comments highlight the need for long-term investment in drying, storage, and workforce capacity to secure the sustainability of paddy purchasing and storage operations in the future.
Four persons including a Budhist monk died and 32 others were injured when two SLTB buses collided head on at Weerawila at arond 12 noon today (18).
Three of the deceased were women. 22 of the injured were admitted to the Hambanthota Hospital while 10 others have been admitted to the Debarawewa hospital.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) ship OONAMI which arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill and replenishment visit on 09 Mar 26 departed on 11 March.
The departing ship was given a formal farewell from the Sri Lanka Navy, in keeping with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo.
The 150.5m long JMSDF OONAMI is commanded by Commander IIO Hiromasa.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ship explored some tourist attractions in Colombo. The itinerary also included a coastal clean-up drive participated by naval personnel of both countries and engagements with the Sri Lanka Navy, designed to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The Central Cultural Fund established under the provisions of the Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980 is responsible for development of cultural and religious monuments in Sri Lanka, settling the expenditure borne for development, renovation and conservation of local and foreign cultural monuments, awarding financial donations for artisans as well as awarding those who served the nation in the fields of culture and religious sectors.
The said act has been passed in Parliament 45 years back and, the requirement to revise the provisions of the act according to the contemporary requirements haa been recognized.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted their policy
approval to amend the said act, considering the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasashana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
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Four dead 32 injured in head on collision at Weerawila
JMSDF ship OONAMI concludes goodwill visit
Cabinet nod to amend Central Cultural Fund Act No. 57 of 1980
’National Namal Uyana’ declared as a National Heritage
Establishment of Supervisory Committees for restoring economic activities.
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