Sri Lanka's Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has purchased 5,390 metric tonnes of paddy under its procurement programme for the 2026 Yala cultivation season, as the government continues efforts to support local farmers through guaranteed paddy purchases.
According to Deputy General Manager (Operations) Saman Palitha Bandara, the procurement programme commenced on July 13, and the board has steadily increased its purchases from major paddy-producing districts.
The largest volume of paddy has been procured from the Ampara District, where the PMB has purchased 3,148 metric tonnes. The district remains one of Sri Lanka's leading rice-producing regions during the Yala season.
In addition, the board has purchased 567 metric tonnes of paddy from the Anuradhapura District and 620 metric tonnes from the Vavuniya District, with procurement continuing in other cultivation areas as harvesting progresses.
Officials said additional paddy storage facilities will be opened in line with the pace of harvesting across the country to ensure farmers have convenient access to government purchasing centres.
The Paddy Marketing Board plans to open 148 storage facilities nationwide to facilitate paddy collection during the current harvesting season, enabling a wider procurement network and supporting the government's efforts to stabilize the local paddy market.
The procurement programme is expected to continue as more farmers complete harvesting in the coming weeks.
