Farmers have committed suicide after failing to sell their cultivation

Thousands of protesters blocked Kaduruwela area for nearly three hours accusing the rice mill owners of influencing the paddy prices.

The protest was organised by All Ceylon Farmers Association linked to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).

Propaganda

JVP parliamentarian SK Subasinghe accused the government of engaging in propaganda campaign without taking proper action to improve farmers’ living conditions.

Farmers spend about Rs.12 for a paddy kilogramme while the selling price is about Rs. 8.50   SK Subasinghe

“Nothing has been changed though the Rupavahini and state radio announced guaranteed prices for paddy farmers” he told bbcsinhala.com.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government promised to offer a range of subsidies for the farmers including a guaranteed price for paddy.

“Farmers spend about Rs.12 for a paddy kilogramme while the selling price is about Rs. 8.50,” Subasinghe added.

Sabotage

He was leading the protest not as a JVP legislator, Subasinghe said, but as a trade union leader.

He accused “certain people” in the government of sabotaging the Mahinda Chintana programme agreed for the presidential elections.

General Secretary of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Maithreepala Sirisena, is the most senior SLFP figure in Polonnaruwa district.

The JVP, which supported Rajapaksa’s campaign in November 17 presidential elections, has not joined the cabinet but supports his minority government.