The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, I thank Minister Sunil Handunnetti for the detailed reply. If you continue with the facilitative approach you stated in September at the farmers’ meeting—“we should set up facilitation and not run businesses”—I welcome it. The key is to create competitiveness, pay a fair price to farmers, and let the private sector operate efficiently, lowering consumer prices. Imports are around Rs. 120 billion; with a modest levy we could better support farmers. Consider allowing private operation at Pelwatte, Hingurana, Sevanagala, and focus on domestic production rather than imports.

¶ 02 Also, rather than debating causes of cane fires, ensure farmer protection. We earlier created a natural disaster insurance mechanism—please reinvigorate it. If needed, import crystals to improve efficiency and competitiveness. We in the Opposition are ready to support such reforms.