By Saman Indrajith
The SJB MPs staged a protest in Parliament yesterday, demanding that the government immediately intervene to solve the fertiliser issue faced by farmers.
They held placards condemning the government’s failure to redress farmers’ grievances, amidst booing from the government benches.
The SJB MPs rose after the commencement of public business following a statement by Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella. “The government pledged to implement a 10-year programme to implement its organic fertiliser policy, however serious issues have arisen as a result of the government’s decision to shift towards organic fertiliser within one year,” MP Kiriella said.
The SJB MPs chanted the slogan “Diyavu Pohora Diyavu’ (Give us fertiliser).
SJB Colombo District MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said that he and fellow MPs were protesting against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his ad hoc decision to ban chemical fertiliser and its ill effects. “Now airlifting chemical nano nitrogen (urea) is too little too late,” De Silva said.
SJB Kalutara District MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar said that for months, farmers across many areas in the country had been protesting against the shortage of fertiliser. He said that the ban on chemical fertiliser was opposed by farmers who staged protests after suffering crop losses.
The SJB MPs stopped the protest after about 20 minutes and parliament proceedings recommenced.
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