The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I wish to raise questions to the Hon. K.D. Lal Kantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.

¶ 02 Agriculture is the principal livelihood of the people of Sri Lanka. There are districts where paddy is the mainstay. Due to the heavy rains during 2024/2025, paddy cultivation in many districts has declined. Smallholder farmers, especially in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, have been devastated. Many cannot even contemplate the next minor season’s sowing. They are asking to be helped through to the next season.

¶ 03 01. What is the total extent of paddy lands destroyed by floods across the country?

¶ 04 02. How many farmers have been affected? Has the Government implemented any scheme for insurance, compensation, or relief?

¶ 05 03. What relief scheme is in place for affected farmers?

¶ 06 04. In the Northern and Eastern Provinces, how many acres of paddy lands have been affected, and what is the relief plan?

¶ 07 Additionally, Hon. Deputy Speaker, photographs of the flood‑damaged fields in Kilinochchi are with me; I submit them to the Chair. The guaranteed price for paddy was announced only yesterday, but harvesting began at the start of January, particularly in the North and East. By the time the guaranteed price is set, harvesting has already been completed at around 50 percent in some districts and as high as 90 percent in others. Insurance officers responsible for compensation say that according to their circulars, their hands are tied; they have even stopped issuing application forms for compensation in Kilinochchi, though some other districts continue to issue them.

¶ 08 Therefore, while the Hon. Minister seeks two weeks to answer, I urge immediate action to issue the application forms so farmers can apply for compensation. Typically, an acre yields about 30 bushels, but this time only 10–12 bushels have been harvested. Our farmers have been severely affected by floods. Please ensure forms are issued immediately and relief provided.