Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said the government will further negotiate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide more relief to low-income earners.
Addressing an event held to distribute free rice to low income earners under the government’s paddy purchase program in Maharagama on Sunday (26) Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said many countries have pledged to support Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis.
Expressing his views, the Premier said now it is possible to harvest the paddy crop and distribute it to the low yield areas of the country.
“It has been possible to take a big step forward especially in rice. The government worked to ease the various problems faced by the farmers by prioritizing them. The farmers of our country, who have a great ability, made it possible to produce rice from the ground. At the same time, activities were launched to create interest in increasing the home gardening in each Grama Niladhari Division,” he said.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the 40 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Maharagama for joining the government’s program.
He said it is noteworthy that the Hambantota district was able to produce a surplus which can be sent to another district.
The Prime Minister said that he had discussed this at length with the farmers of the Southern Province last week and they agreed to send the surplus to Colombo District.
With the agreement, the Governor of Southern Province has coordinated it and was able to start the program of providing rice to every low-income family facing food difficulties as per the President’s decision, the Premier said.
“It is indeed a victory,” the Premier added.
The Prime Minister said due to the current government policies, there is now a wide opportunity to deal with banks in foreign countries.
“Every bank that had stopped transactions with us has expressed support. The decision of every bank to work with the banks of this country since last week is the first victory in the recovery process of our country.”
“In the future, we will work hard to make the effort to ease the cost of living successful by relaxing the rules for the import of goods.”
The government has started negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to increase the allowance to be given to low-income earners as soon as the program for collecting information about needy recipients ended, the Premier said.
Member of Parliament Yadamini Gunawardena, former provincial council members Upali Kodikara, Sulochana Gamage, Colombo District Government Agent KG Wijesiri, Maharagama Divisional Secretary Dilrukshi Walpola and other officials participated in this event.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
