SJB slams Minister for blaming officials over Udawalawe water fiasco

• Accuses Govt. of failing to resolve crisis situation in country 
• Says damage caused to agriculture of Udawalawe and other areas cannot be rectified 
• Asks Govt. to resolve issues faced by farmers to prevent food shortages and collapse of sector 

SAMAGi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National Organiser and Parliamentarian Tissa Attanayake yesterday slammed Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera for blaming officials for the Udawalawe water fiasco and absolving himself of any wrongdoing. 

“If the Agriculture Minister seeks to blame officials and save himself, what purpose does a Minister serve?” Attanayake asked. The MP called the Minister’s statement one of serious concern. 

Addressing a press conference, Attanayake said the Government has failed to resolve the crisis situation in the country. The MP said the drought resulting in crop damage and the inability of farmers to obtain a fair price for produce has dealt a death blow to the country’s agriculture sector. 

“The damage caused to the agriculture in Udawalawa due to the water issue will be difficult to rectify. At the same time the farmers of Polonnaruwa are not being given a fair price for rice,” he noted. 

“We cannot withstand the crop damage caused in Udawalawa and other areas. It will affect our economy leading to food shortages and other social crises. We ask the Government what are its solutions for these issues?” he asked. 

He accused the Government of failing to provide adequate compensation to farmers for crop damage. “There are many issues on how the compensation is being calculated,” the MP said. He strongly criticised the Government for trying to offer a mere compensation amount as a way to free themselves from any accountability.

The MP said the Government should have been prepared for the current drought. “But instead they have failed to manage the water resource leading to a severe crisis,” he said. 

Attanayake warned that Sri Lanka will face a reduced production of rice, vegetables and fruits in the next few months. He called on the Government to provide adequate compensation to farmers and to resolve issues relating to impending food shortages. 

“There is no point in squabbling. We saw the Ministers of Agriculture and Irrigation making accusatory statements. This will resolve nothing. Therefore we call on the President and the ruling SLPP to intervene in finding resolutions to these issues,” he noted.