Sajith alleges being blocked from questioning farmer issues

The current government informed the chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Parliamentarian Hector Appuhamy, that the opposition leader cannot express views despite being able to join as an observer.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa shared this today as the committee scheduled a meeting to discuss paddy purchasing and national rice requirements.

Making a special statement, Sajith Premadasa noted he joined this committee previously to secure solutions for public problems, having highlighted the challenges of the farming community for a long time. He described the attempt by ruling party MPs to use parliamentary rules to silence the opposition on these issues as a low act and a serious situation.

He mentioned meeting a farmers' delegation on June 8, to discuss numerous grievances at a time when the stable paddy price remained ungazetted. Following his parliamentary presentation of these issues, the Paddy Marketing Board issued a circular and subsequent gazettes setting prices at 120 rupees for Nadu, 130 rupees for Samba, and 140 rupees for Keeri Samba, subject to a 14% maximum moisture condition.

He criticised the government for delaying the gazette until forced by the opposition, only to try to silence them now.

He further noted that despite the Agriculture Minister announcing that the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute estimates production costs at 137 rupees per kilogramme, the government purchases paddy at a low price while banning questions.

Sajith Premadasa asserted that ruling MPs betray the farmers who elected them, failing to deliver the promised 150 rupee stable price. He vowed that Samagi Jana Balawegaya will continue fighting for farmer rights inside and outside parliament.