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Mr.Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture says that the government has decided to spend an amount of Rs.20 billion for the purchase of paddy during the Maha season.
The Minister made these remarks today (27) morning while participating in the programme for distribution of 10 kg of free rice to low income families held at Weeraketiya and Angunakolapelessa.
The Government implemented the paddy purchasing programme through District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries during this Maha season. Also, the government decided to convert such paddy in to rice with the aim of upgrading the economic condition of small scale rice mill owners and distribute this rice to low income families.
AS per a decision taken by the President Ranil Wickramasinghe, free rice distribution programme initiated in several district yesterday and distribution of rice in the districts including Hambantota, Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Matara, Ratnapura and Kegalle took place today.
The Minister expressing his views stated that the Government has made arrangements to provide 10 kg of rice per month to low-income families for two months. However, the president has paid attention to provide rice to all these low income families continuously for several months, if necessity arisen.
If the government is unable to continue this free rice distribution programme it will take steps at least to provide a financial subsidy to all these families. Some people say that the government provides all these reliefs due to the upcoming election. We, as a government will not provide relief for votes.
The Minister added that the rice which is being distributed today in several districts comes from the paddy harvest of farmers in Hambantota district. These farmers were not involved in protests requesting elections. People in this country do not request to hold elections. Only several political parties are making requests to conduct elections. The government will hold the election soon after the recovery of the economy in the country.
Several Divisional Secretaries in Hambantota district and a few other officials participated in this event.
