by Staff Writer

COLOMBO (News 1st); The government will release funds to rice mill owners under a concessionary loan scheme within this week to facilitate the purchase of paddy harvested during the ongoing Yala cultivation season, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne announced.

The Deputy Minister said the funds will be disbursed through District Secretaries and are aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted purchase of paddy from farmers while maintaining market stability during the harvest period.

Under the programme, rice mill owners will be eligible to obtain interest-free loans of up to Rs. 25 million for the purchase of Yala season paddy. 

Namal Karunaratne noted that the government has already purchased more than 45,000 metric tons of paddy as part of its ongoing efforts to provide a guaranteed market for farmers and safeguard farm-gate prices.

He further stated that Parliament last Friday approved a supplementary estimate worth Rs. 7.5 billion to support the continuation of the paddy purchasing programme and provide further relief to the farming community.

Published Date: August 25, 2026