The opposition says the country’s farming community is severely burdened due to arbitrary decisions reached by the present administration.
Speaking during a media briefing Parliamentarian Gayantha Karunatilleka said 25 percent of the country’s work force is in the agriculture sector adding that 1.8 million families depend on paddy cultivation alone.
He noted the country’s farming community consists of 2.2 million people, including those engaging in cultivation of other crops.
He said the entire farming community is burdened due to the government’s decisions.
The MP said the government and the Minister of Agriculture had promised to pay compensation for farmers who were affected under the prevailing situation.
He added therefore the government accepts that it made a mistake.
He claimed however the mistake cannot be corrected by merely providing compensation to farmers.
MP Karunatilleka noted the government must claim responsibility for the consequences.
On a separate note, MP Gayantha Karunatilleka further claimed Sri Lanka has to beg from other countries while celebrating the 74th Independence Day with pride due to the wrongdoings of the government.
He said the country has to beg for loans to import essential goods, due to the dollar shortage.
The MP claimed the government has rid the people of their pride.
MP Karunatilleka said the government has put the country in a situation in which we have to beg for funds to obtain fuel and provide electricity, rice, medicine, and other essential food items.
