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trict. Speaker Rajapaksa intervened at that point, and in an apparent note of approval of Mr. Premadasa’s position, said, “I have a stock of paddy to be sold at that price to you.”

Delighted by the Speaker’s stand, the UNP MP said, “You heard what he said in approval of my stand, didn’t you?

Minister Fernando then said,” I heard it well. Only the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced a stable price for paddy. During the UNP time, a paddy kilo fetched only Rs.15. It has been doubled now. Also, the Paddy Marketing Board was closed at that time. Its warehouses were sold off. Now, we have revamped it.”Underscored in such talks coupled with political humour is the need to strengthen the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) further enabling it to influence the market forces for the benefit of both paddy farmers and rice consumers. It can be done by increasing the PMB’s stake both in purchasing and milling paddy to be sold at reasonable prices. In such an eventuality, private traders will be compelled to fall in line with the price rates of PMB benefitting all concerned.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) usually appeals to the international community for help over issues concerning them. In fact, TNA leader R. Sampanthan, after being disturbed by government MP A.H.M. Azwer, appealed to the international community to see how minority members are not allowed to speak in parliament to present their cases. He made that appeal on Thursday. However, he made another appeal to divinity last Tuesday over the demolition of three Hindu temples in the High Security Zones allegedly by the military. “You have demolished three temples. You must remember that our deities are very powerful. Please be careful,” he said.

Deputy Minister Sarath Weerasekara, who is the former head of the Civil Defence Force, was quick to remind Mr. Sampanthan of the fact that the military built so many Hindu temples.