- The Minister of Food Security, Hon. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera brought to the notice of the Cabinet that the Ministry of Food Security during the period from 19th February 2015 to date, has purchased 148,973 MT of paddy directly from the farmers and as well as from the farmer organizations through the Paddy Marketing Board and Co?operative Societies, that the General Treasury had provided Rs.7,200 million for the purpose and that it is the largest stock of paddy the Government has so far intervened to purchase since the year 2007.