Farmers in the Walawe region have voiced their frustration over the government’s failure to make timely arrangements for the collection of paddy ahead of the upcoming harvest. Representatives from seven divisions of the Walawe Farmers’ Rights Protection Organization held a media conference near Chandrika Lake in Embilipitiya, highlighting their concerns.
According to the farmers, the paddy harvest in the region will be ready within the next 10 to 15 days, yet the government has made no official announcements or plans to purchase their produce. They claim that private businessmen are already exploiting the situation by buying paddy at lower prices before the government steps in.
Adding to their frustration, the farmers criticized Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne, accusing him of being unresponsive to their calls for assistance. Once known for his outspoken stance against previous governments, farmers now say Karunaratne is ignoring their struggles and failing to address key issues.
The representatives also questioned whether Minister of Agriculture K.D. Lal Kantha has been misled by false data and inaccurate reports from government officials. They demanded a certified price of Rs. 140 per kilo of paddy and urged the government to lower the cost of agricultural equipment to ease their financial burden.
“Namal Karunaratne has become ‘Namal Baba’—a servant of the Dudleys. He once fought for farmers, but now he won’t even answer our calls. If he can’t help, who will?” one farmer lamented.
Rejecting attempts to divert attention to political controversies, they urged the government to prioritize solutions for farmers instead of engaging in debates about former presidents’ residences.
