Farmers’ Federation requests intervention of Human Rights Commision

Compensation for farmers inconvenienced due to non- receipt of water

The Chairman of All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation (ACFF), Namal Karunarathna, has requested the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission to intervene to obtain an amount of Rs.50,000 per acre as compensation for farmers who had faced innumerable difficulties due to non-receipt of water, on time for cultivation. Water has not been released for these farmers despite the fact the government’s decision to release water to them on May 25, for cultivation purposes in the Mahaweli ‘H’ zone, according to a decision taken at the meetings held during the Yala season.

The message, including this request, has been handed over on Monday (5) by the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation, Namal Karunarathna and W.M. Susantha Kumara, to the Divisional Coordinating officer MS.W.K. Shiromi Priyanga in Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission at Anuradhapura.

According to the message, the water was due to be released on May 25, at a decision taken at the 2019 Yala season meetings relevant to Mahaweli ‘H’ zone, but the authorities of Mahaweli have acted contrary to the decisions of the meetings and decided not to give water, although they had the ability to do so.

In the meantime, the farmers in Mahaveli ‘ H’ zone have got ready for cultivation by clearing irrigation canals and dams by May 23. They had spent money for seed paddy and soya seeds accordingly. They had spent Rs.10, 000 per hectare for clearing the paddy fields. However, the farmers who found it difficult to cultivate were inconvenienced, especially the farmers who belonged to the areas in Thambuttegama, Thalawa, Eppawala, Nochchiyagama, Galnewa and Ipalogama in Mahaweli’h’ zone.

After handing over this message, Namal Karunarathna who expressed his views to the media said that the farmers who faced this injustice had started a continuous fasting for 13 days in front of the office of the Mahaweli Authority in Thambuttegama, requesting a redress for them.

He said, however, that it was a matter for regret because neither the President nor Prime Minister have paid any attention to this matter.