The Hon. Namal Karunaratne

¶ 01 Please allow me to answer. Regarding price: by end of next month, harvesting of early paddy will begin; by mid-February small-seeded varieties, and by late February the rest. We are preparing all arrangements to purchase paddy, calculating farmers’ production cost per kilo and setting a guaranteed price so farmers receive a fair margin — ensuring no injustice. We will also protect rice consumers, setting appropriate controlled prices for rice. We will take direct decisions to protect both farmer and consumer.