Rohini asks why squander money on more ministers if basic needs cannot be met

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) yesterday (11) lambasted the government for failing to purchase paddy purportedly for want of funds.SJB lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne said that the SLPP-led President Ranil Wickremesinghe government should be ashamed of its failure especially against the backdrop of appointment of 37 State Ministers at the expense of taxpayers.The Matale District MP was responding to Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s recent disclosure he couldn’t purchase paddy for want of funds.

SLFPer Amaraweera said that the failure on the part of the Agriculture Ministry to obtain the required funding through two major state banks had jeopardized the planned purchasing of paddy stocks. The Minister said that his efforts to accelerate the process hadn’t been so far successful and the issue at hand would be taken up at a meeting, scheduled to be chaired by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also holds the finance portfolio.

The Island

 sought an explanation from State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya regarding Minister Amaraweera’s complaint. The SLFPer promised to inquire into the issue at hand tomorrow. The newly appointed State Minister assured that he would be able to explain the status as regards the matter involving the state banks today (12).

Dudley Sirisena, one of the major paddy millers who had been critical of successive governments as well as the private sector over the paddy purchasing schemes declined to comment on Minister Amaraweera’s allegations.Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena couldn’t be contacted over the phone for his comments on Minister Amaraweera’s complaint as regards the inordinate delay on the part of the state banks to release the required funding.

Private television stations over the past few days reported farmers being turned away at purchasing centers for want of funds.Lawmaker Kaviratne said that the government was begging countries for free rice while the local produce was not purchased. Alleging that the government failure would allow the private sector to further exploit the farmers, MP Kaviratne said, urging the Wickremesinghe administration to prioritize which needed immediate attention.

The public had been demanding a system change and seemed to have initially believed Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster would automatically result in far reaching changes. “But, the SLPP as expected got a gang of State Ministers appointed. In terms of the constitution, the SLPP and President Wickremesinghe can appoint 12 more ministers and three more State Ministers,” MP Kaviratne said.

MP Kaviratne said that the country was in such a precarious situation that appointment of 30 Cabinet and 40 non-Cabinet ministers, close on the heels of staff-level agreement with the IMF on USD 2.9 bn loan facility, seemed a crime. Obviously, the government was blind to the developing crisis, MP Kaviratne said, pointing out the SLPP’s efforts to consolidate its position, both in and outside Parliament, in the wake of breaking up of the 145-member parliamentary group.

Responding to another query, MP Kaviratne said that the government was continuing a major crackdown on those who had been involved in the Gotagogama protest campaign as part of its overall strategy to suppress the Opposition. The government’s failure to purchase paddy should be examined against the backdrop of its failure to compensate for those who suffered serious crop losses for want of fertiliser and agro chemicals.

MP Kaviratne said that the Rajapaksa government paid USD 6.7 mn for a ship load of rejected Chinese carbonic fertiliser. In spite of corruption allegations pertaining to the Chinese deal, as well as liquid fertiliser from India, the government conveniently failed to investigate, MP Kaviratne said, adding that the people would soon launch street protests against the incumbent government.