UNP urges Mahinda to declare plans

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

The United National Party yesterday challenged Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse publicise his plans to upgrade the agriculture sector and the living conditions of the farmers, without giving unrealistic promises.

"UNP Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe has already presented a set of proposals pledging to uplift the country's farming sector," UNP MPs Hemakumara Nanayakkara and Naveen Dissanayake told a press briefing at the Opposition leaders' office.

Dissanayake said the UNP's election manifesto has clearly mentioned the measures that should be taken to improve agriculture.

"Special emphasis will be given to develop the Mahaweli areas which are now being neglected by the present Government."

He recalled that his father the late Gamini Dissanayake initiated the Mahaweli project giving a major boost to the agriculture sector and as well as electricity generation.

"This Government has neglected the Mahaweli areas. Under Ranil Wickremesinghe's leadership we will take measures to improve those areas providing infrastructure facilities."

Dissanayake said Premier Rajapakse has again promised to provide a bag of fertiliser at Rs 350. "This is a very old promise given by the Freedom Alliance which failed to fulfil their promises. Now again, they are giving the same promise.'

He said UNP had adopted a clear stance on the fertilizer issue. "In our manifesto, we have made it clear that all types of fertiliser will be sold at Rs 550 per 50 kilo bag."

Besides, he said the UNP will formulate legislation to ensure that farmers get freehold title to the land they were supposed to get from "Swarna Bhoomi' and "Jaya Bhoomi" schemes. Nanayakkara said paddy farmers are facing great problems due to the lack of a stable and reasonable price for their produce. "Although, there is a certified price these paddy farmers are getting something below Rs 10 per kilo.

A monopoly by several people are causing hardships to the farmers." "Our leader Wickremesinghe has presented clear proposals in this regard. We will offer a guaranteed price of Rs 17 a kilo from the next harvest and establish a workable system to ensure a reasonable guaranteed price for all other products namely tea, coconut, rubber etc."

Nanayakkara said they would waive off all the agricultural loans by the farmers and take steps to introduce a new scheme to provide agriculture loans at low interest rates. Dissanayake also said the UNP expects to implement several power generation projects such as Moragahakanda, Uma Oya, Kerawalapitiya and also mini hydro power projects.

"The Uma Oya project will help resolve the country's power crisis and at the same time, solve the water problem of farmers in the Southern province."