News
Govt.’s planned buffer stock of rice a pipedream, say millers
The private sector is purchasing paddy at prices higher than the government’s guaranteed rates, meaning the government will be unable to secure the planned buffer stock, according to the President of the All Ceylon Small and Medium Scale Mill Owners’ Association, U. K. Semasinghe. He made these remarks on Thursday during a talk show hosted by Hiru TV.
Semasinghe noted that although the government’s guaranteed price for Nadu was Rs 120 per kilo, the private sector paid Rs. 125. During the programme, the Hiru TV presenter mentioned that Dudley Sirisena, who owns Araliya Mills, had stated that if he purchased a kilogramme of paddy at Rs 120 rupees, he would have to sell a kilo of rice at Rs. 242.
However, Semasinghe explained that if small millers bought paddy at Rs 125 per kilogramme, they could sell a kilo of rice at Rs 225. He added: “In the coming two or three weeks, you will see rice produced by small and medium-scale millers available in the market at prices ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 205 per kilo.”
Meanwhile, former Director of Agriculture K.B. Gunaratne, who also participated in the show, commented that the NPP government lacked the experience, and therefore had failed to formulate an effective strategy to address the issue.
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Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Based on the heavy rainfall currently being received in the Kalu River Basin and the analysis of water level data recorded at hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kalu River Basin, it is hereby warned that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next
few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River.
The affected areas include the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ratnapura, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Elapatha, Kiriella in Ratnapura District.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists and passengers travelling through the affected regions, are strongly requested to act with utmost vigilance and to take all necessary
precautions. Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
A considerable rainfall has occurred in the catchment areas of the Aththanagalu Oya Basin as atb5.00 AM today (22).
By analyzing the current rainfall situation and river water levels of Hydrological Stations on the Aththanagalu Oya, there is a possibility of a flood situation occuring in some low lying
areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys situated in Diwulapitiya, Mirigama, Attanagalla, Mahara, Gampaha, Minuwangoda, Ja-ela, Katana and Wattala Div8sional Secretaries Divisions within next 48 hours.
Owing to this situation, there is a possibility of some of the roads running through these lowlying areas being inundated at some places.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
A significant rainfall of nearly 300 mm has been recorded in the upper catchment areas of the Kelani River Basin.
Based on this weather condition and the analysis of water level data from the hydrological gauging stations maintained by the Irrigation Department within the Kelani River Basin, a warning is hereby issued that a Minor Flood Situation is likely to occur within the next 24 hours in the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley belonging to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ruwanwella,Seethawaka, Dompe, Dehiovita, Eheliyagoda, Yatiyantota, and Bulathkohupitiya.
The public residing in these areas, as well as motorists traveling through these regions, are requested to exercise extreme caution regarding this situation.
Furthermore, if heavy rains persist, this flood situation could extend to the low-lying areas of the Kelani River valley downstream of Hanwella.
Disaster Management authorities are requested to take necessary actions in this regard.
Minor flood situation likely to occur within the next few hours in the low-lying floodplain areas of the Kalu River
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Aththanagalu Oya and Uruwal Oya valleys
Flood warning issued to low lying areas of the Kelani River valley
Landslide early warnings issued to the Districts of Gampaha, Kalutara and Ratnapura
President’s Fund to consider scholarships for children of low-income lottery sellers
Showers above 200 mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and showers above 100 mm are likely at some places in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts.
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