Opposition Leader and SJB Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa said that farmers, fishermen, three-wheeler drivers, operators of schoolchildren’s transport service and mill owners will be given a fuel subsidy based on the QR code.
The 14th public rally of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) for the 2024 Presidential Election was held on August 25 in Hingurakgoda, Polonnaruwa, under the leadership of Opposition Leader Premadasa.
The Opposition Leader further said that arrangements will be made to provide 50 kgs of high-quality fertilizer required by the farmer for Rs. 5,000. The price of agro-chemical fertilisers will be regulated and steps will be taken to eliminate the ‘mafia’ in the field. Agro chemicals such as fungicides, insecticides and weedicides will be provided to farmers at affordable prices. The distribution of fertilisers will be implemented in a transparent manner centered on agricultural service centers.
“Fuel subsidy will be provided to farmers, fishermen, trishaw drivers, operators of school transport services and mill owners based on a QR code. The farmers are suffering due to Easter Sunday attacks, corona pandemic and organic fertiliser scam. The people who are engaged in farming by pawning their gold jewellery have been subjected to unlimited pressure from the past. Crop loans of these farmers will be written off.
“A fair guaranteed price will be given to the farmers’ produce. A fair price will be given to the consumer and a high guaranteed price will be given to the paddy farmers.
“The government has written off loans taken from the state banks without collateral due to the crony relations they maintain with those in power, but the government has not been able to cut off the loans of the farmers. This debt will be written off in gratitude to the farmers who provide rice to the country under our government.
“Farmers have lost their traditional farmlands in many districts. The lands that were cultivated for decades will be given back to farmers. The environment resource and the wildlife resources of this country will also be given a high priority. Protecting farmlands and creating a formal insurance system for crop damage and crop loss, steps will be taken to reduce the elephant–human conflict.
“Even though there are unworkable leaders and weak leaders in the country, the SJB has spent nearly Rs. 1 billion through the ‘Sakwala’ and ‘Husma’ programmes and are awaiting the people’s mandate.”
MP Dr. Harsha De Silva said that three to four months ago, a kilo of Keeri Samba rice was priced between Rs.140 and Rs. 150. But today, Keeri Samba cannot be sold for even Rs.100 per kilo. Mill owners in Polonnaruwa have told the farmers to grow Keeri Samba. As a result, the innocent farmers have grown Keeri Samba and are now in dire straits without selling their harvest. After harvesting the crops, the farmers mortgage all the agricultural equipment. The government decided to tax even the spades used by the farmers. The government is working to handover the rice industry to the ownership of a few large rice mill owners, eliminating the common farmer and small-scale rice mill owners. Few people decide the price of rice in the country. Few people also decide what rice to grow. A few people also decide the price at which the people get rice. The government has completely forgotten the farmers.
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