The Northern Province is to be transformed into a province that is capable of producing enough food to feed the country, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said.
He also said that steps will be taken to commence the production of animal feed in the North.
“We believe that there will be a surplus of paddy harvest in the ‘Maha Season’. Accordingly, arrangements are being made for the government to purchase a kilo of paddy at a guaranteed price of Rs. 100, the President added.
The President made the remarks while attending the Northern Province harvest ceremony at Paranthan, Jaffna today.
“Many people are currently experiencing financial difficulties. Even if yields increase, there is a segment of the population that lacks the financial means to purchase rice. Therefore, we are implementing a program to provide 10 kilos of rice free of charge to 2 million families during March and April. Then by the Sinhala New Year season, they would have received 20 kilos of rice,” he said.
The President also said that more methods of purchasing and storing paddy will be developed in the future.
Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, former Member of Parliament Vijayakala Maheswaran, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Inspector General of Police C D Wickramaratne and Northern Province Government officials participated at the event.