AKD says people have no desire to remove the government as Rs. 1,200 million in farmer compensation is distributed in Matara.
AKD says people have no desire to oust the current government, as compensation was distributed today (27) to farmers affected by the Nilwala River salt barrier crisis in Matara.
The compensation programme was held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha auditorium.
The payments were made to farmers who were unable to cultivate their lands from 2019 to 2022 due to flood conditions caused by the salt barrier constructed along the Nilwala River in Matara.
The salt barrier, built in 2019, caused continuous damage to agricultural lands in several parts of the Matara District, including Kamburupitiya, Kekanadura, Malimbada, Wilpita, Madiha, and Thalalla.
Although previous governments had failed to provide a proper solution to the issue, the current government allocated Rs. 1,200 million through the 2026 budget to compensate the affected farmers.
Accordingly, compensation will be paid for seven consecutive cultivation seasons, from the 2019 Yala season to the 2022 Yala season, during which damage was reported.
The relief will be provided to all farmers who properly reported their crop damage to the relevant Agrarian Services Centres for those seasons.
Compensation is scheduled to be paid for 12,800 acres of uncultivated land affected by the problem.
The symbolic distribution of compensation to 250 farmers was carried out under the President’s patronage, while officials expect to complete payments to all eligible farmers within the next 14 days.
Speaking at the event, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country has now built a people’s government and a disciplined, strong economy.
Because of that, he said, the government has been able to provide the highest amount of compensation in history to people during times of distress.
The President further stated that the government’s position is that compensation should be paid within a short period after damage occurs.
He said that while immediate problems faced by the people are being addressed, the government has also begun a programme to gradually strengthen their economy and turn them into active contributors to the national economy.
The President pointed out that Rs. 90,000 million has been allocated under the Ministry of Industry to provide loans to small-scale businessmen.
He also stated that Rs. 25 million has been allocated for 2026 for the Community Power programme, which is being implemented to strengthen the economy of rural communities.
President Dissanayake said that, after decades in the country’s history, significant progress has now been achieved in several important economic indicators.
He added that the country’s economic growth should not be measured only through data, but also by how much easier the standard of living has become for ordinary people.
The President emphasized that the people have no desire to remove the present government, describing it as a government of the people and one that is accountable to the people.
He said those dreaming of removing the government are thieves, fraudsters, and drug traffickers.
According to the President, such groups are spreading various falsehoods in panic as cases involving their alleged fraud and corruption are now being heard in court.
However, he said the current government is moving forward while gaining more and more public trust.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also thanked the staff of several institutions that worked with dedication on the compensation process.
These included the Matara District Secretariat, the Department of Agrarian Development, the Department of Agriculture, and the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.
The President further said the government has planned a large volume of work to provide a permanent solution to the Matara flood problem.
He said the government also intends to create stable income sources for economically disadvantaged people, build a higher standard of living, and bring broad development to the Matara District.
Recognising education as the most important path to uplift people’s lives, the President said the government has launched a programme for a broad educational transformation.
That programme includes modernising schools across the island and constructing 50 vocational training centres.
