The government has officially announced the certified prices at which the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) will purchase paddy from farmers.
This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture – K.D. Lal Kantha and Deputy Minister – Namal Karunaratne during a special media briefing held today (Feb. 05).
who outlined the revised procurement rates. The Minister said that the rates were decided after evaluating rice market trends and farmers’ production costs and that the government will only purchase dry paddy from the farmers.
Accordingly, the purchase rates are : – Nadu paddy : Rs. 120 per kilogram – Samba paddy : Rs. 125 per kilogram – Keeri Samba paddy : Rs. 132 per kilogram
The Paddy Marketing Board is expected to begin purchasing paddy at these rates immediately.
A group of fishermen stranded at sea off the coast of Balapitiya were rescued today by a Bell 412 helicopter under the directive of the Secretary of Defence.
The fishermen were aboard a vessel that encountered distress in rough sea conditions. Upon receiving the alert, the Sri Lanka Air Force launched the helicopter to assist in the emergency rescue operation.
The Department of Meteorology has issued a Red Alert warning for strong winds and rough seas around Sri Lanka, effective from 12:30 pm today (May 30) until midnight tomorrow (May 31).
Former Sports Minister – Mahindananda Aluthgamage as well as former Trade Minister and Sathosa Chairman – Nalin Fernando, have been placed in a common ward at Welikada Prison, where they will be held with other general inmates.
Prison authorities confirmed that both individuals were issued standard-issue jumpers, along with a mat and pillow, as per prison protocol.
The two were brought to Welikada Prison yesterday afternoon following their sentencing and were subsequently subjected to medical examinations before being transferred to their assigned ward.
The Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar yesterday (May 29) sentenced the duo over their involvement in a major corruption case linked to the importation of sports equipment, which is infamously known as the ‘Carrom Board’ case.
Ex-Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage was sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment while former Trade Minister – Nalin Fernando was sentenced to 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the case as the Lanka Sathosa Chairman at that time.
