Ex-president Maithripala Sirisena should take the responsibility for the present predicament of paddy farmers, says Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs State Minister Roshan Ranasinghe.

During a ceremony held at the Sri Lankan Institute of Local Governance, the State Minister said it was Sirisena’s presidency that most of the problems in the agricultural sector had begun.

Ranasinghe said so when he was asked by journalists to comment on former President’s Sirisena’s recent remark that he would not be able to visit Polonnaruwa as he could not face the grievances of farmers.

“I am not sure whether Sirisena is representing the government or the Opposition, but I am sure that it was he who is behind the downfall of paddy farmers of this country. He as a senior politician should know that the conspiracies and plots would come to light one day. If he has problems, he should raise them at the government parliamentary group meeting. Instead he goes on giving voice cuts to TV. Sounding of the death knell of the country’s agri-sector started during the Yahapalana time under Sirisena’s presidency. At the time President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over power to them in 2015, the country had a surplus paddy production Sirisena and his government stored in airports for want of space. It is from that level we have descended to the present situation. Sirirsena curtailed the fertiliser subsidy given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was during Sirisena’s presidency, the paddy farmers ceased to receive water for cultivation purposes. Sirisena should also take the responsibility for dismantling the Paddy Marketing Board,” the State Minister said.

“As Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa always says, anyone can leave or come in,” Minister Ranasinghe said.

The ceremony at the Sri Lankan Institute of Local Governance was held to mark the assumption of duties by its new board of directors under the chairmanship of secretary to the State Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government Affairs, S.A.D.B. Boralessa. Dr. D.M. Suratissa has been appointed as the Director General of the institute.