New paddy storage complex for Marandagahamula

Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa will initiate the construction of a fully-equipped paddy storage complex and a trading complex with all facilities at Marandagahamula, Divulapitiya on January 21.

It is being done to develop the Marandagahamula rice market - one of Sri Lanka’s leading wholesale rice markets – in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana Vision to stress the importance of the Divi Neguma programme.

The construction work will begin on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a five acre-land at Marandagahamula town and is expected to be completed within three months. In this connection, President of the Marandagahamula Rice Traders Association, B.K. Ranjit, has expressed the association’s gratitude to the government for helping to overcome the difficulties rice traders, producers and consumers faced over the past 35 years.

The two complexes are being built parallel to the Divi Neguma National Programme aimed at eliminating poverty in Sri Lanka by strengthening family units economically and socially with community participation.

The project will directly benefit 150 rice traders and 125 small and medium scale rice mill owners and indirectly benefit millions of consumers. The quantity of rice sold at this marketing centre is five kilos per day. Building the new storage and marketing complexes will provide a long-term solution to the problems of rice traders, according to B.K. Ranjit. It will also help to provide the whole country with rice wholesale at reasonable prices.

The project was launched following a request the Marandagahamula Rice Traders Association made to Minister Basil Rajapaksa in view of the difficulties these businessmen have been experiencing. They have been transporting rice from various parts of the island to this centre over the past three decades. The problems they faced in transporting, vehicle parking, purchasing rice daily and other matters will be solved through this and make it possible to streamline rice distribution throughout the country.

This is part of a programme the objective of which is to minimize the impact adverse weather conditions during the harvesting period, price fluctuations and other problems.

The provision of facilities under this programme for improving the quality of farmers’ lives will help to develop the island’s agro-economy.

B.K. Ranjit expressed confidence that the storage facilities will not only help to raise the living conditions of many small and medium scale rice traders but also make it possible to provide rice to consumers at the government’s control price during times when there is a scarcity of rice.