(Lanka-e-News-08.March.2012, 7.30PM) A majority of the parliamentarians of the ruling party stated that they will also be compelled to join with the opposition and take the Govt. to task. They told this in relation to the postponement until 8th of the request for a debate by the UNP in Parliament in connection with paddy purchases. The Govt. Parliamentarians had said this at their group meeting held on 5th.
When the Govt. group meeting led by the Prime Minister was held in the Parliament , and at the time speakers were being selected in relation to the debate proposed by the opposition in Parliament , Vasudeva Nanayakkara, S M Chandrasena and Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa, castigated the Govt. and said , because of the policies of the Govt. pertaining to the pricing on paddy purchases , the farmers have been driven to the point of drinking poison.
The media had reported of Farmers admitted to Madakapuwa Hospital after drinking poison because they had to sell their harvested paddy for a tuppence. The former M P S K Subasinghe expounded the shocking problems faced by the farmers ….
“A kilo of paddy was Rs.9.00 in 1990. A kilo of salt was Rs. 2.60. A chewing betel pack was Rs. 1.20. During that period , after selling a kilo of paddy , it was possible to buy a kilo of salt , a betel pack and even have some money as balance. Today , a Kilo of paddy is Rs. 15/- ; a kilo of salt is Rs.32.00 ; a betel pack is Rs. 20/-. Hence, today it is not possible to buy even a pack of betel , let alone salt after selling a kilo of paddy. The farmer has to sell one and half kilos paddy even to chew just a small pack of betel”, he lamented.
