the Paddy Marketing Board expects to purchase around 75,000 to 100,000 MT. of paddy from the total harvest of Yala Season towards end of July, 2013.  With the view to make available the storage facilities required for the purpose, the proposal made by Hon. Johnston Fernando, Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, to convert 50,000 MT. of paddy available in stores, to rice and sell them to foreign countries, after retaining a buffer stock of 50,000 MT. of paddy, was approved by the Cabinet.