News

Meeting convened to develop a structured plan to address key issues of Paddy farmers

Published

11 months ago

2025/11/26

Priyan

A discussion aimed at formulating a structured plan to resolve the issues faced by paddy farmers was held on Tuesday (25) morning at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha and Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe.

Minister Lalkantha noted that although a specific programme had been implemented for many years to protect paddy cultivation and safeguard paddy farmers, no such structured programme had been introduced for other crops in the country. He emphasized that the present government’s objective is to uplift the living standards of all farmers by ensuring their protection, similar to the support extended to paddy farmers.

The Minister further stated that farmers, government officials and politicians should no longer work in isolation. Instead, all stakeholders must function as a single team to find sustainable solutions to farmers’ problems.

During the discussion, attention was drawn to increasing paddy production by limiting rice imports and formalizing the rice purchasing mechanism. Ensuring high-quality rice at affordable prices for consumers while reducing production costs and protecting farmers was also highlighted.

Discussions further focused on determining fertilizer subsidy prices while considering global market conditions.

It was emphasized that the government has chosen to implement a fixed price for paddy to avoid unfair treatment of farmers. Additionally, long discussions were held on improving facilities for farmers, including storage, drying and other essential production-related activities.

Looking ahead, Minister Lalkantha directed that production cost reports for every district be provided before upcoming policy decisions, highlighting the significance of utilizing these insights when setting guaranteed prices for paddy.

It was emphasized that seed paddy, fertilizer subsidies and additional support for paddy farmers have been made available at a time when numerous critical public service needs are still unaddressed. Consequently, it is essential to take action to supply the necessary vehicles, equipment and personnel to state institutions, as well as to promptly address the current vacancies in the relevant sectors.

Expressing their gratitude to the government for intervening with a clear plan for the first time to resolve their issues, the farmers stated that they are prepared to work together with the government to find sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by paddy farmers.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T. B. Sarath, Member of Parliament Susantha Kumara Navaratne, Director General of Agriculture Dr. W.A.R. Thushara Wickramarachchi, senior officials of the Paddy Marketing Board, senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, and a group of paddy farmers also participated in the discussion.

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Ranawaka accuses govt. of using JVP cadres and police to suppress political opponents

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

… reminds AKD led over 560 protests during Yahapalanaya

Former Yahapalana Minister and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka yesterday (19) alleged that the JVP, which carried out over 560 protests during the 2015-2019 period, was now bent on preventing the Opposition from exercising its democratic right to protest.

Recalling the declaration made by the JVP at the height of the violent protest campaign in July 2022 that it would set the Parliament ablaze, the former parliamentarian lashed out at the JVP-led administration for using the police excessively to curb political opposition. Ranawaka said this while addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road Office .

Commenting on the protest campaign launched by the Maha Sangha, demanding presidential pardon for General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) Ven. Galagotaatte Gnanasara, the ex-Colombo District lawmaker alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake used a combination of police, investigative units and JVP cadres to break up the monks’ protest. The government went to the extent of compelling the JVP/NPP-run Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) to deprive the peaceful protesters of basic toilet facilities, he alleged.

The government’s actions proved that only those with prior approval from JVP Pelawatte headquarters could launch protests in Colombo, its suburbs or in the provinces. The police have become a political tool in the hands of the JVP, the ex-Minister said. (SF)

News

Six killed as speeding bulker crashes into vehicles, shop in Akurana

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

By SK Samaranayake

Six people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding bulker lorry carrying cement and concrete ploughed into several vehicles and a shop on the Kandy-Jaffna A9 road at Kurugoda, Akurana, yesterday (19).

Four of the victims, two women and two men, died on the spot in the accident which occurred around 10.30 am, according to Alawathugoda Police.

Police said the bulker, travelling at high speed from the Matale direction, collided with three three-wheelers, two motorcycles and two lorries before veering off the road and crashing into a commercial establishment.

Five of the injured were rushed to the National Hospital of Kandy, where hospital sources said two remained in critical condition.

The bodies of the four victims were placed at the Akurana Hospital, where two others, who suffered minor injuries, were also receiving treatment.

The driver of the bulker was arrested by the Alawathugoda Police Traffic Division and is to be produced before court.

Investigations are being conducted under the supervision of Central Province Senior DIG Lalith Pathinayake.

News

Prof. Peiris, summoned by CIABOC, appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release

Published

2 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

G.L. Peiris

By Shamindra Ferdinando

owledging that there had been an administrative lapse on the part of the President’s Office in 2019 when Maithripala Sirisena granted presidential pardon to Ven. Gnanasara Thera, Convener of Janathawadi Joint Opposition Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday (19) urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to rectify whatever those shortcomings and release the General Secretary of Bodu Bala Sena.

Addressing the media at the former President Ranil Wickrekmesinghe’s Flower Road Office, Prof. Peiris emphasized that it was not fair to hold Ven. Gnanasara accountable for lapse or technical fault of others at the Presidential Secretariat during President Sirisena’s tenure.

Prof. Peiris was flanked by UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena and United Republican Front (URF) leader Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The fresh appeal was made on behalf of Ven. Gnanasara in the wake of President Dissanayake and JVP heavyweight Anura Kumara Dissanayake ruling out fresh presidential pardon for the monk. Minister Lal Kantha declared that the government couldn’t under any circumstances meet the continuing monks’ protest demanding Ven. Gnanasara’s release. President Dissanayake dismissed repeated appeals for Ven. Gnanasara’s release when he addressed the NPP really in Badulla.

Sirisena granted presidential pardon in May 2019 even before he completed a year of his six-year term of rigorous imprisonment for contempt of court during proceedings of the media personality Prageeth Ekneligoda’s 2010 January disappearance in the Homagama Magistrate’s court.

At the onset of the regular weekly briefing, Prof. Peiris said that he would report to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) today (20) morning as requested by the commission. “The CIABOC wanted to record my statement regarding a meeting I chaired at the ministry after the conclusion of the war in 2009 pertaining to an ongoing investigation.”

Commenting further on the imprisonment of Ven. Gnanasara, the former parliamentarian said that President Sirisena intervened following a spate of requests made on behalf of BBS General Secretary by the Mahanayakes, Anunayakes and other Maha Sangha.

The Supreme Court on 10 September, 2026 rescinded the presidential pardon granted in late May 2019.