President tells Jaffna farmers:

‘I will raise import taxes during harvest time’

Chaminda Perera in Jaffna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said he is prepared to protect local farmers and strengthen their economy by increasing import taxes of their produce during the harvest season.

He said local politicians should inform him when harvesting is round the corner for such a move to protect the local farming community. Speaking at the Jaffna district special development committee meeting on Tuesday, he said politicians and officials in the Jaffna district did not make him aware of farmers reaping their potato harvest during this period until he met a group of farmers.

“The farmers told me that they are selling a kilo of potatoes at Rs. 60 – 65 per kilo and none of the Parliamentarians or local government members representing them would take up this issue,” he said. The President said the farmers told him that politicians representing them in Parliament are talking frivolous matters in parliament and they never talk of the farming community in Jaffna.

The President said that the politicians and officials should inform about the harvesting period of farmers and the production quantum expected by the government during the harvesting period concerned in order to take appropriate measures to protect the farmers and uplift their economy.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa , Power and |Energy Minister Pavithra Devi Wanniarachchi, Small Enterprise Development Minister Dugllus Devananda, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senarathne and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were present.