President addresses farmers’ woes

*Spells out relief measures in store

*Ventures into paddy field to assess damage

President Mahinda Rajapaksa toured several areas in the Polonnaruwa district on Tuesday to personally look into the problems encountered by the farmer community due to the current drought.

During the tour, the President visited Attanakandawala, Jayasiripura and Ithiriwewa Mahaweli G Zone coming under the Elahera project, exchanged views with farmers and paid attention to their problems.

Thereafter, he visited the Unagalawehera 48th Village in Hingurakgoda and looked into the problems of farmers belonging to the Bedunela Farmers’ Organisation engaged in cultivation under the Giritale project. The President ventured into a paddy field and inspected the damage caused to the cultivated land.

President Rajapaksa immediately directed the Irrigation and Water Management Secretary to effect urgent repairs to the ‘D’ 19 canal in Giritale. Thereafter, the President visited Lankapura and Kirimetidamana villages and met farmers and told them that the government had already set apart funds to provide seed paddy and fertiliser needed for the next cultivation season free to the farmers. He said this assistance would be forthcoming during the ploughing season.

President Rajapaksa also said that the government had implemented another programme to provide farmer relief in association with the FAO.

A programme to rehabilitate irrigation canals and provide drinking water facilities will also be implemented for the benefit of farmers.

A farm land insurance scheme will also be launched to safeguard farmer interests.

The President said he was attending to people's problems with a genuine concern for their welfare rather than with an eye on elections. If he made promises at this time, it would be considered an election bribe, the President said.

The era when pledges were election gimmicks had ended long ago.

The government would take urgent measures to provide every possible relief to farmers affected by the drought, he said.

Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Johnston Fernando and Priyankara Jayaratne and Presidential Chief of Staff Gamini Senerath accompanied the President during the tour.