President meets farmers to consult on Budget

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday met with the farmers to seek their views and suggestions for the preparation of the 2013 Budget.

The President met with the representatives from farmer associations countrywide at the Temple Trees Thursday and discussed their difficulties and suggestions in the farming sector.

The representatives from the Northern and Eastern Provinces have expressed their desire to contribute to rejuvenate the agriculture in the two provinces still recovering from the three-decade long conflict.

The President has assured that all benefits currently enjoy by the farmers in the rest of the provinces will be given to the farmers in the north and east and the Government will continue the program to provide concessions for the drought hit farmers.

Ministers Mahinda Samaraweera, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Jagath Pushpakumara, Johnston Fernando, Reginald Cooray and Government officials participated in the discussion.