JVP to win demands for the farmers

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will intervene to win the demands of the paddy farmers who have been badly affected by the shortage of water in the agricultural areas.

JVP politburo member K.D. Lalkantha said that he would take the lead in winning relief for the drought stricken farmers if 10,000 loin cloths clad farmers joined him to protest in Colombo.

He said that the government needed to take steps to make a compensation payment of Rs. 100,000 to every acre of paddy that has been destroyed without water.

He explained that the government cannot turn a blind eye by saying there was no water in the reservoirs.

“The Irrigation Minister in-charge of the Mahaweli, Nimal Siripala’s officials assured to provide water to the farmers and they spent large amounts of money to cultivate this season. The government is therefore responsible for the losses incurred by the farmers,” he said.

He added that the solution given by some ministers like to chant Pirith calling for divine intervention to bring rains was humorous.

“If that is so, then the country would not need a government. Everyone can chant Pirith and all will be done,” he said.

According to Lalkantha, he would take the lead if loin cloths clad farmers with their mammoties and sickles joined him to demand relief.