No Price, No Storage — Yala Harvest in Crisis

No Price, No Storage — Yala Harvest in Crisis

by Staff Writer 30-07-2025 | 6:34 PM

COLOMBO (News 1st); As the Yala season paddy harvesting gets underway across the Polonnaruwa District, farmers are voicing serious concerns over the lack of access to government paddy warehouses, which remain unopened despite the ongoing harvest.

Polonnaruwa contributes approximately 17% of the total Yala season paddy production in Sri Lanka.

This season, 69,100 hectares of land have been cultivated, supporting around 74,000 farming families. 

The expected yield is estimated at 350,000 metric tons, and harvesting has already begun in several areas.

In the Kirimetipitiya farming zone, under the Ilukpitiya reservoir, harvesting has commenced across 100 acres, benefiting 80 farming families.

Farmers claim that despite the government’s claims, paddy is not being purchased at the prices announced.

Farmers also highlight the issue of unopened government paddy warehouses, which are essential for storing harvested grain. 

The Polonnaruwa District has 38 government-owned warehouses under the Paddy Marketing Board.

Polonnaruwa District Secretary S. Ekanayake stated that 5 out of 38 warehouses have been opened, and 15 more will be operational once harvesting is complete.