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PMB stores overflowing with paddy: NE officials
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Bumper harvest expected in Batticaloa in a couple of weeks. Pic by Athiran
Despite the government’s rush to import rice, the Government Agents and officials in the Northern and Eastern province claim that there are millions of kilos of paddy being hoarded in stores belonging to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB).
The highest is reported to be in the Ampara district with 12 million kilos being stocked followed by Kilinochchi where five million kilos of paddy is being hoarded.
In Mullaitivu 4.2 million kilos of paddy is being held while in Vavuniya it is 2.8 million kilos and in Jaffna 1.7 million kilos.
In Trincomalee 3.2 million kilos have been stocked up while in Batticaloa 1.5 kilos and in Mannar 460.000 kilos are being held in the PMB stores.
The officials say that with the expected harvest in the next few weeks they are likely to run short of space to store paddy stocks.