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In accordance with an idea of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, arrangements have been made to conduct a series of programmes under the name ‘Govijana Sabhawa’

In particular, the theme of this is ‘Moving Forward with Farmer Power – Government Policies and the Farmer’s Tomorrow’. The main objective of ‘Govijana Sabhawa’ is to go directly to the village and to the farming community, where the minister intervenes to discuss their problems and provide solutions. The current government has been in power for one and a half years. During this period, a series of special programmes have been implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation on behalf of the farming community. An inspection of how these programmes are being implemented at the district level and at the village level, and how the farming community is benefiting from them, will also take place at this occasion.

Arrangements have been made to hold one thousand ‘Govijana Sabha’ at the regional level under the initial phase, led by the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation. If your area also requires a ‘Govijana Sabhawa’, the Ministry of Agriculture announces that steps should be taken to contact the Ministry of Agriculture through the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation in order to obtain this opportunity.

As a beginning of this, K.D. Lalkantha participated in the ‘Govijana Sabhawa’ organized by the Minipe Left Bank Farmers’ Foundation and the ‘Govijana Sabhawa’ organized by the Moragahakanda Integrated Farmers’ Foundation. During this event, solutions to farmers’ problems and necessary guidance were provided.

 The Minister, who attended the event, expressed his views.

“It has now been one and a half years since the National People’s Power government came to power. New institutions have been brought to the village. Power has been given to the village to make decisions about the village. The government supports the decisions that are made. The Community Power Committee is an institution that has been legally and constitutionally granted to you.

A programme called ‘Praja Shakthi’ is being implemented throughout the country. The objective of the ‘Praja Shakthi’ programme is to empower and strengthen the people living in a given Grama Niladhari division to elevate them from where they are, economically, socially, politically, and culturally. It is implemented at the village level through the ‘Praja Shakthi’ Committee. Power is given to the village to make decisions about the village to pass proposals and formulate programmes. Once those are formulated, allocations from the Pradeshiya Sabha (local council) must be made to implement the decisions taken by the committee of that Grama Niladhari division. It is not for the Pradeshiya Sabha to do whatever it wants instead. If an allocation comes from the central government, it must come to implement the decisions and resolutions made by the committee on behalf of the village.

While reducing the hardships of the farming community and improving the economic situation, we must work to increase our harvest. With the Maha season coming to an end, we are looking to begin the Yala season as soon as possible in order to create room for a third cultivation season.

The remaining fertilizer for the Yala season is given to the farmer at the old price, even though the companies brought it in at a higher price. We take it from them, bring it to the Agrarian Service Centers, and distribute it at the previous price. In that case, the government has to pay that additional amount to those companies out of its own pocket. The burden of that is not passed on to the farmer. The government treasury pays that price difference to the companies. In doing so, the farmer’s side has been protected.”