“NORTHERN FARMERS SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF DEBT BURDEN”

President Maithripala Sirisena said negotiations would be held with State and Private Banks to explore the possibility of cushioning the debt burden of farmers of the Northern Province. He said a special programme would be launched to empower the farmers who are involved with agriculture by settling their problems.

The President stated this by participating in the ceremony on October 14 at the launching ceremony at the Special Agricultural Economic Centre in Kilinochchi. The President declared open the Centre by unveiling the plaque and made an observation visit.

He said: “We allocate funds to the Northern Province as well as to other provinces in Sri Lanka. There is one thing I can observe that the money allocated to some programmes were not spent properly and funds had to to be returned. The farmers of the We allocate funds to the Northern Province as well as to other provinces in Sri Lanka area requested to stop importing of potatoes and chillies as they can be cultivated in these areas.

“The people of these areas voted me to become the President by casting more than 80% of the votes more and I will never forget it. I, along with the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are endeavouring to give you a better future in a war-free country.

“Anybody can protest and that is a democratic right without hindering the public. Any problem could be solved by dialogue. I said it in Jaffna also. Anybody can meet me and solve their problems by discussions,” he said.