Farmers’ organisation demands kerosene subsidy

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) affiliated All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation is demanding a kerosene subsidy for vegetable cultivators.

National Organizer of the Federation, Namal Karunaratne told ColomboPage that the government has taken measures to provide kerosene subsidies to fishermen and the estate sector, but has failed to provide any relief to the vegetable cultivators who utilize a large amount of kerosene.

He explained that a majority of the vegetable cultivators used kerosene for their water pumps used to irrigate the plantations.

“Vegetable cultivators have to now spend a lot on purchasing kerosene following the fuel price hike and they cannot even get a good price for their produce in the market,” he said.

According to Karunaratne, the government needed to intervene in ensuring a proper price for vegetables and to purchase any surplus of vegetables.

The Government increased kerosene prices by 49 percent to Rs. 106 per liter last month.