‘UNP, JVP fear Divi Neguma Dept. will make govt more popular’

Priyanka Kurugala

Some parties fear that the government will become more popular by converting the Samurdhi Authority into a Divi Neguma Department.

Due to this reason, the UNP and JVP are protesting against the Bill to establish the Divi Neguma Department, All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistants Officers’ Society Chief Secretary Jagath Kumara said.

He was addressing a press conference at the All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistant Officers’ Society head office at Battaramulla yesterday.

“The All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Production Assistant Officers Society has the majority membership while the union which protests against the proposed Divi Neguma Department, Samurdhi Officers’ Association has around a 100 worker membership,” he said.

“There are around 2,500,000 Samurdhi beneficiary families and 1,044 Samurdi Bank Societies in the country. These banks have granted around Rs 73,358 million in loans,” he said.

“The Samurdhi programme commenced in 1995 to eliminate poverty. The Up Country Development Authority, Southern Development Authority, Samurdhi Commissioner General Department, the Rural Rehabilitate Department and the Samurdhi Authority will come under the proposed Divi Neguma Department,” he said.