The Hon. Ravi Karunanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Minister, thank you very much for the response to my question. Hon. Speaker, this problem has persisted for years without a solution. That is why I raised this matter.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Minister, had the Paddy Marketing Board discharged its duties properly since 1971, we would today be exporting rice. Since that has not happened, can you look at this anew? Even from your own answer, it is clear that banks provide loans in both Yala and Maha seasons. Typically, when a Maha season yields around 2,700 metric tons, the Paddy Marketing Board purchases only about 3%. Hon. Speaker, with 3% you cannot establish a fair price.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Minister, I asked you to name the top three purchasers who bought the most paddy. If one party has bought 65% or 70%, clearly there is distortion. Why are we not helping youth to become entrepreneurs?

¶ 04 If you supported 4,000 entrepreneurs with 50,000 kg each, even a 20% challenge could be managed. Banks have already provided around Rs. 75 billion. If we convert this into entrepreneurship and create at least 4,000 entrepreneurs across districts, we would find a lasting solution. You may ask why our Government did not do it — we started in 2016. But some sabotaged it, preventing young entrepreneurs from standing on their own feet. You say you will bring a radical change. Hon. Namal Karunaratne, you say one thing; Hon. Lal Kantha says another. I welcome a radical approach to create 4,000 entrepreneurs and make that change. I ask whether you can take up that challenge.