The government has informed the chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Sustainable Development, Member of Parliament Hector Appuhamy, that the opposition leader is barred from expressing views despite being permitted to join committee meetings as an observer.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made this disclosure yesterday as the committee scheduled a meeting to discuss paddy purchasing and national rice requirements.
In a special statement, Premadasa said that he had previously joined the committee to secure solutions for public problems, having highlighted the challenges faced by the farming community for a long time.
He described the attempt by ruling party lawmakers to use parliamentary rules to silence the opposition on these issues as a low act and a serious situation.
He recalled meeting a farmers' delegation on 8 June to discuss numerous grievances at a time when the stable paddy price remained ungazetted.
Following his presentation of these issues in parliament, the Paddy Marketing Board issued a circular and subsequent gazettes setting prices at Rs. 120 for Nadu, Rs. 130 for Samba, and Rs. 140 for Keeri Samba, subject to a maximum moisture condition of 14 per cent.
He criticised the government for delaying the gazette until forced by the opposition, only to attempt to silence them now.
He further noted that despite the Agriculture Minister announcing that the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute estimates production costs at Rs. 137 per kilogramme, the government is purchasing paddy at a low price while banning questions.
Premadasa asserted that ruling party members are betraying the farmers who elected them by failing to deliver the promised 150 rupee stable price.
He vowed that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya will continue fighting for farmer rights both inside and outside parliament.
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