Governing UPFA defeated in Alawwa as well

 Friday, 29 November 2013 04

The 2014 Budget presented by the governing 

UPFA in the Alawwa Pradeshiya Sabha has been defeated. The budget was defeated yesterday (28) by a majority of two votes.

Out of the 12 governing UPFA members in the Pradeshiya Sabha, seven members have voted against the budget proposal.

It is learnt that a new governing UPFA MP in parliament has worked towards defeating the 2014 Budget in the Alawwa Pradeshiya Sabha.

The governing party parliamentarian has assured the governing party members who voted against the budget in the Pradeshiya Sabha that he would take the responsibility if the party initiates any disciplinary action against them.

Speaker’s comment shows the real picture

 Friday, 29 November 2013 

A comment made by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa in parliament yesterday (28) gave a clear picture of the situation where the government’s purchase of paddy from farmers.

Cooperative Minister Johnston Fernando has told parliament that a kilo of paddy is currently being purchase between Rs. 34 and 37.

Hearing Fernando’s comment, Speaker Rajapaksa has said that he would even sell his paddy to the government if the purchasing price is Rs. 37 per kilo.

Fernando denied statements by the opposition parliamentarians that despite government claims of paddy being purchased at a price between Rs. 30 or 35 per kilo, the actual purchase price is between Rs. 26 and Rs. 27.

The Minister has added that the government has made arrangements to store the excess paddy in the market.

Mahinda adds more burdens to farmers

 Friday, 29 November 2013 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who speaks of a proud ancestry as an agricultural family wearing a kurahan sataka, is continuously burdening the farmers in the country.

Farmers’ association have been demanding for the re-payment of the farmers’ pension and the payment of the arrears due to farmers. The associations urged the government to include these in its 2014 Budget.

However, the Agriculture Ministry has stated that while Rs. 1,800 million is needed to pay the farmers’ pension, the government has allocated only Rs. 1,000 million for the purpose.

Therefore, the remaining Rs. 800 million for the pension will have to be borne by the farmers.

Also, the 2014 Budget has not allocated the required Rs. 2,150 million for the payment of the pension arrears due to the farmers.
The government has also adopted a new strategy to delay the pension payment for farmers by increasing the age limit to receive such a payment from 60 to 63 years.