The Anuradhapura District Irrigation Joint Farmers’ Organization has issued a strong demand for increased compensation for crop losses caused by adverse weather conditions. The farmers are calling on the government to provide Rs. 100,000 per acre for completely damaged farmland, claiming the current compensation is insufficient to cover their financial losses.
At a media briefing in Anuradhapura, the organization’s chairman, Punchirala Ratnayake, highlighted the challenges faced by farmers. He explained that the cost of cultivating an acre of land has significantly increased due to rising prices of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and labor. “The current compensation packages are outdated and inadequate. The government must abolish these old circulars and implement a new program that offers Rs. 100,000 per acre to help farmers recover from their losses,” Ratnayake said.
Ratnayake also criticized Deputy Minister Namal Karunaratne, who has been advocating for increased crop damage compensation. “If Deputy Minister Karunaratne claims he can secure Rs. 100,000 per acre for farmers, we challenge him to fulfill that promise. Empty assurances will no longer be tolerated,” he added.
The organization warned that if their demands are not met, farmers across the Anuradhapura District will be forced to take decisive action, including organizing mass protests against the government. “We have supported the government with the expectation of fair treatment. If they fail to address our grievances, we will have to reconsider our stance and take necessary steps to protect our livelihood,” Ratnayake warned.
Farmers in the region have faced severe crop losses in recent months due to unpredictable weather, including droughts and floods, which have devastated paddy fields and other agricultural lands. The lack of adequate compensation has left many farmers in debt, struggling to support their families and continue farming.
The Anuradhapura District Irrigation Joint Farmers’ Organization has called on the government to act swiftly, warning that any delay in addressing their demands could lead to widespread unrest in one of Sri Lanka’s key agricultural regions.
