The recent Food Policy and Security Committee meeting recommended milling paddy stocks owned by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) into rice through the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment and releasing them to the market, aiming to facilitate the government's paddy purchasing process.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the joint proposal presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development.

Accordingly following steps were approved to be taken in the process:

-Milling 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy from the stock owned by the Paddy Marketing Board into rice through the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment

-Calling for expressions of interest by the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment from paddy mill owners registered under the Paddy Marketing Board to turn 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy into rice and supply it in 5 kg, 10 kg, 25 kg, and 50 kg packs.

-Determining the paddy-to-rice conversion rate and the appropriate price for rice by the price committee appointed consisting of officers from the Paddy Marketing Board, Co-operative Wholesale Establishment, Lanka Sathosa Limited, National Institute of Post-Harvest Management, and Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute in accordance with the Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-15.

-The rice will be available in Lanka Sathosa Limited, the co-operative network, and private parties.