PMB to increase release of rice stocks to market from 1,500 MT to 10,000 a month

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/17

By Ifham Nizam

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday instructed the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to issue 10,000 MT of rice per month to ease the shortage of rice in the market.

The order was given at a discussion yesterday at the PMB Head Office in Colombo on the prices of rice and a strategy to purchase paddy during the Yala season.

Paddy Marketing Board Chairman Neil de Alwis and Deputy Chairman Duminda Priyadarshana were also present at the discussion.

The PMB has so far released 1,500 MT of rice per month to the market, officials said, revealing that it had been decided to supply 10,000 MT of rice per month to control the rising prices.

Minister Amaraweera also instructed the officials to release samba in five and 10 kilo bags, branded as ‘PMB Rice’ to the market immediately.

It was also decided to launch a programme to generate solar power using the warehouse roofs of PMB. Storage facilities that belong to the PMB have a roofing area of around 200,000 square feet.

They also discussed that since the harvesting of the Yala paddy crop, action had been taken to purchase paddy from farmers.

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Petrol to cost less from midnight today (30)

Published

3 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) has announced a reduction in the prices of Petrol 92 and Petrol 95, effective from midnight today (30).

The price of Petrol 92 has been reduced by Rs. 15 per litre, from Rs. 414 to Rs. 399 while the price of Petrol 95 Octane has been reduced by Rs. 20 per litre, from Rs. 495 to Rs. 475

There will be no change in the prices of diesel, Super Diesel and kerosene under the latest revision.

“Rathuwewi Mihimadala” Book Launched with the Participation of the Prime Minister

Published

7 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The book “Rathuwewi Mihimadala”, written based on the life story of Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Leader of the Democratic Left Front, was launched on Friday [August 28] at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) in Colombo, with the participation of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Speaking to the media afterwards about Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“Vasudeva Nanayakkara is a prominent figure in Sri Lankan politics, particularly within the left-wing political movement. There were several influential figures within the left movement, and that left-wing influence also contributed to bringing the country to where it is today. Politically, there were areas where we agreed and areas where we did not. However, I have great respect for the contribution made by Vasudeva Nanayakkara to left-wing politics. When I entered Parliament in 2020, Vasudeva Nanayakkara was also in Parliament. We sat in the same row, and we spoke about many important as well as interesting moments in his political career. I believe some of these experiences have also been included in this book.”

The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha, Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara, former President Maithripala Sirisena, former Speakers Karu Jayasuriya and Chamal Rajapaksa, as well as party members, family members and friends.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Sun directly overhead Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon today (30)

Published

18 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

The sun is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from 28th of August to 07th of September due to its apparent southward relative motion.

The nearest places of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (30) are Mannar, Periyamadu, Puliyankulam, Welioya and
Pulmoddai about 12.11 noon.