UNP accuse govt. of treating vegetable farmers like terrorists

The United National Party (UNP) says the government should not treat vegetable farmers like terrorists.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said the government should not arrest and fine farmers for not packing vegetables in plastic containers.

He said the farmers do not deserve to be treated in such a manner.

“What wrong has the farmer done to be treated like this? Not packing vegetables in plastic containers does not give the right for anyone to treat farmers in this manner,” he claimed.  Attanayake observed that the government’s actions have caused the prices of vegetables to sky rocket in the market during the festive season.  Farmers from many areas in the country are in protest over the government’s regulation to check and fine persons who do not transport vegetables and fruits in plastic containers.  The government in return has said the opposition UNP and the JVP along with the gunny bag producers instigated the farmers’ protests.

Meanwhile, a farmers’ union, Dambulla Nidahas Govi Sangamaya, says the farmers support the government’s decision to transport fresh produce in crates and it is the businessmen and the thugs who threaten the farmers to get involved in protests.

(Colombo Page)