The Hon. Kaveenthiran Kodeeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to participate in today’s debate on regulations under the Intellectual Property Act.

¶ 02 Specifically, I welcome the Government’s announcement of a guaranteed price for paddy. This is good. However, had you set the guaranteed price from the beginning of January, farmers in the North and East would have benefitted more. In districts like Ampara, 60–70 percent of farmers have already harvested and sold at very low prices. In future, if you announce prices in time, farmers can protect themselves from losses.

¶ 03 Agriculture is the backbone of this country, and you have a duty to protect farmers. Past Governments failed the farmers—indeed, that is why Gotabaya Rajapaksa had to flee the country. Therefore, please fix controlled prices at the right time. You have now set paddy at Rs. 120, 125, and 130. In truth, this guaranteed price is still too low given the high cost of cultivation. If you can increase it to Rs. 140, farmers can better protect themselves. To date, guaranteed prices are typically decided only in February; please set them earlier in future.

¶ 04 Fertilizer is being distributed now, but our farmers in the North and East have already harvested. Fertilizer must be provided at the correct time to achieve maximum yield and profit.

¶ 05 In Aalaiyadivembu area, there are two paddy stores belonging to the Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (MPCS). Since 1967, the MPCS managed them. During the peak of the war in 2008–2009, they came under Army control. In 2010, the Defence Secretary and Army commanders returned the land to the MPCS. However, now the Army is forcibly retaining control of the two paddy stores without a cooperative society resolution, without member approval, and without the sanction of the Cooperative Department’s Board. The Hon. Minister should intervene.

¶ 06 The MPCS bought paddy at controlled prices to protect local farmers, milled it, and sold rice at low prices to the people. These are community assets worth millions, sustained through considerable investment by the MPCS. Please take action to return these two paddy stores to the Aalaiyadivembu MPCS. Thank you.