Sajith calls for farmer action, warns El Niño and La Niña could bring severe crisis

Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa says veteran singer Dr. Nanda Malini, who rendered a distinguished service to the country's arts sector and bids farewell to the nation today, is a dignified artist who stood up for the ordinary people without hesitation, considering the hardships and challenges of the youth with humanism, and that she can be described as an intrepid leader.

The Opposition Leader mentions that she accepted leftist politics as a political ideology she believed in, and since both left-leaning political concepts and right-wing concepts possess good qualities, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya proceeds on the middle path by gathering all those good qualities.

The Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made these remarks today (22) while joining the occasion to hand over paint worth 1.8 million rupees for painting the largest 100-cubit Bhumisparsha Samadhi statue under construction at the Sri Punyawardhanaramaya Prabhashwara Buddhagaya Maha Viharaya in Attanakadawala, Elahera, Polonnaruwa, under the 'Sasunata Aruna' programme implemented by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya for the advancement of the Buddha Sasana.

He also states that Dr. Nanda Malini strengthened human resources and safeguarded human lives through her songs, that such a singer will not be born again, and that regardless of the views she held, recognising the importance of those views, her voice for the voiceless people as well as the arts and music sectors and her standing up for the rights of the youth should be respected and appreciated.

The Opposition Leader mentioned that if there is any merit in this paint donation of 1.8 million rupees done today, he prays that the merit may also be transferred to her.

He further stated that when speaking about the farming community, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya repeatedly stood up for the farming community and their rights, and that it is the Samagi Jana Balawegaya that still reminds the things the government claimed it would do for the farmers during the election period.

The Opposition Leader mentioned that as of today, the government fulfilled none of the promises made to the farmers, and although they claimed while harvesting that they would pay 150 rupees per kilo of paddy, today they give a guaranteed price of 120 rupees, deliberately causing a loss of 17 rupees per kilo of paddy to the farmer despite it costing 137 rupees to produce a kilo of paddy.

He stated that the farmers were deceived by telling outright lies, that what was said to gain votes must be fulfilled, and putting rhetoric aside, what was promised to the paddy farmer must be done.

The Opposition Leader also mentioned that 2.1 million farming families were deceived between 2019 and 2024, and requested them not to remain as silent spectators anymore, but to take to the streets democratically and peacefully to raise their voice for the right to live and for farmer rights.

The Opposition Leader stated that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya unveiled a farmer charter ensuring justice for the farming community, and is prepared in both word and deed to protect the farmers for food security.

The Opposition Leader mentioned that the 7,500 million rupees allocated to grant relief to micro, small, and medium-scale mill owners is insufficient, that many mill owners were blacklisted, that the funds allocated for them are inadequate, and suggested that the promises made to the farmer be fulfilled at least now.

The Opposition Leader said the public should be aware of another severe situation that could arise in the future, as international weather reports forecast that the El Niño and La Niña conditions could result in weather and climate conditions never experienced before in history, and experts in the meteorological field in our country also warned that this situation could operate severely.

The Opposition Leader mentioned that an international organization warned that millions of people in this country could face massive starvation due to poverty, hardship, and debt burden, and since warnings were issued that the El Niño and La Niña conditions could have a negative adverse impact on the people of the country, the government cannot evade it and must implement a special programme.

He also stated that a programme jointly faced by the government, civil society, and citizens must operate as an integrated plan, and human lives are more important than party politics.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa further mentioned that all institutions including irrigation, agriculture, Mahaweli, health, and education must be brought together and coordinated to face this dreadful situation, that a national programme is required for this, and the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Change paid special attention to this matter.