Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Nalin Bandara told Parliament yesterday that the primary reason for the collapse of the Gotabaya Rajapaksa administration was its oppression of farmers through an overnight ban on chemical fertilizers.
He stated that the effects of this decision continue to harm farmers, with paddy yields in the Maha Season still 37% lower and Yala Season yields down by 30%. This, he emphasized, is the key reason behind the current shortages of tea and coconut.
Bandara further noted that Sri Lanka’s farmer population has drastically declined. While there were 6.5 million farmers in the past, the number has now dropped to 2.3 million, as many have abandoned farming due to financial hardship. He stressed that farmers are now desperate for support and hope the current Government will provide them with relief.
Criticizing Government MPs, Bandara urged them to focus on accurately counting farmers instead of animals, calling for a comprehensive database that records the number of farmers and details of who cultivates each crop. He insisted that maintaining accurate records is crucial for agricultural planning and support.
