Sri Lanka, Feb. 23 -- Large scale mill owners have the right to purchase paddy and therefore no one can go against it, Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne said.

Issues arise when the government does not intervene and refrain from purchasing paddy. The present government is active in purchasing paddy. The government is currently purchasing Nadu at Rs 120, Samba at Rs 130 and Keeri Samba at Rs 140. Therefore, there is no issue at the moment. Also the production cost has gone down making paddy farmers happy, the Minister said. He refuted the claim made by the Opposition that farmers are hit by low prices and the failure by the government to purchase paddy.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka....