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Prof. Vitarana says re-streamlining co-op movement the only way to save farmers from middlemen
By Saman Indrajith
LSSP leader Prof. Tissa Vitarana said that re-streamlining the cooperative movement is the only way to save farmers from middlemen who prevent both producers and consumers from enjoying decent prices in the market.
Participating in the third reading stage debate on budget 2021, MP Vitarana said that middlemen and miller mafia have become the bane of farmers.
“The middlemen and miller mafia get the farmers into a debt trap and buy their produce at prices they determine. If the cooperative system was strong, it could have purchased the produce of farmers at a decent price. That would also make way for the consumers to buy at a lower price. Re-streamlining the cooperative movement would be the solution to this,” he said.
“I was the Governor of the North Central Province during the first quarter of this year. It is an area known for its centuries-old irrigated agriculture. More than 65 percent of the people in the province depend on basic agriculture and agro- based industries. The province has immense potential for investors to start their businesses, especially in the agriculture, agro-based industries and livestock sectors. But I was sad to notice that malnutrition was prevailing in the province so badly”, he noted.
Prof. Vitarana further said: “As per the latest statistics, the province’s malnutrition was at 12.5 percent. One in every eight persons was suffering from malnutrition which was high among farmer families. I visited villages in the province and made inquiries. The villagers told me that they do not get the due price for their paddy. Owing to the debts, they had been compelled to sell to the middlemen and miller mafia.
“During the times of the Yahapalana government, their other sources of income also dried up. Two companies have got hold of controlling cattle farmers. Those who engaged in sand mining and brick manufacturing too have lost their incomes. I found that most of the families in the province have only one meal a day.
“The LSSP has an Agriculture Committee headed by Dr. Lionel Weerakoon, who was the former Director, Research of the Agriculture Department. We conducted a thorough research with him and researchers of the University of Rajarata, Mahailluppalama Field Crop Research and Development Institute and officials from the Mahaweli, Agriculture Department, Agrarian Services Board, Irrigation Department and the provincial council. Thereafter we conducted two seminars and a workshop for all stakeholders.
“The research and the subsequent events helped us identify the reasons for the sorry situation prevailing and the solutions for them as well. I table the report of the findings. It was found that there is a mismatch between the crops the farmers cultivate and the potential of the soil, sunlight and climate in the area. That should be optimized to get a better harvest. The province with an immense potential produces only five percent of the GDP.
“Distribution of lands was haphazardly done so they are occupied by various departments and ministries without contributing towards their development. The distribution of lands, optimization of crops and other agrarian services should be done in a scientific and composite manner. The produce of farmers should be value added. While I was the minister of Science and Technology, I promoted the setting up of Vidatha Centers for this purpose. But when I inquired from these officials, I found that they cannot operate to optimum levels as funds allocated to the centers have been reduced gradually during recent times.
“These issues should be addressed to help the farmers to get out of their present plight. Even after that is done, the farmers would not be able to raise their heads till they are hooked by scrupulous elements of the miller mafia. There are regional banks who could obtain loans at seven percent interest from the central bank and serve the people in the province, but they were not aware of it. The cooperative system should be reintroduced to help save the farmers and consumers from the middlemen and miller mafia”.
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PCoI on Easter Sunday attacks:
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC is not bound by recommendations made by the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (P CoI) into the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage, or presidential directives in that regard, according to authoritative sources.
They said that the AG couldn’t under any circumstances initiate legal proceedings until he had received the full PCoI report.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa received the PCoI report on Feb 1. The President’s Office delivered a set of PCoI reports to Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Feb 23, a day after the report was presented to the cabinet of ministers. The Island raised the matter with relevant authorities in the wake of a section of the media reporting the PCoI recommending punitive measures against former President Maithripala Sirisena, Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, IGP Pujitha Jayasundera, Chief of State Intelligence Senior DIG Nilantha Jayawardena, Chief of National Intelligence retired DIG Sisira Mendis and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader and Samagi Jana Balavegaya MP Rishad Bathiudeen et al over the Easter Sunday carnage.
Sources pointed out that due to the inordinate delay in sharing the PCoI report with the AG, the department hadn’t been able to take preliminary measures required to initiate the proceedings. Sources said that a team of officers would take at least six weeks or more to examine the report before tangible measures could be taken.
With the AG scheduled to retire on May 24, 2021, even if the AG Department received the P CoI it would be quite a tough task to initiate proceedings ahead of retirement, sources said. However, in terms of the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in last October, both the AG and the IGP could receive extensions beyond 60 at the President’s discretion.
Dappula de Livera received an Acting appointment as the AG a week after the Easter Sunday carnage whereas his predecessor Jayantha Jayasuriya, PC, was elevated to Chief Justice.
Responding to another query, sources said that the Attorney General two weeks ago requested Secretary to the President for a copy of the P CoI. However, the AG was yet to receive one, sources said. In spite of the AG not receiving a P CoI copy, the AG had instructed the IGP to obtain a copy of the report when he requested the police to complete investigations into the Easter Sunday carnage. The AG issued specific instructions after having examined police files pertaining to the investigations.
The IGP, too, hadn’t received a copy so far though some sections of the report were in the public domain.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage displayed at a live political programme on Derana a copy of the P CoI report he received at the cabinet meeting earlier in the day.
Sources said that the Attorney General’s Department couldn’t decide on a course of action in respect of the Easter carnage on the basis of a section of the report. In terms of the Commission of Inquiry Act (Section 24), the AG enjoyed significant powers/authority in respect of investigations; sources said adding that the Department urgently required both the P CoI report and police investigations report. The Attorney General’s Department has raised the delay in receiving a P CoI report amidst the Catholic Church attacking the government over the same issue.
Sources said that ministerial committee appointed to study the P CoI report couldn’t decide on how to proceed with the recommendations and the matter was entirely in the hands of the AG. Sources pointed out that the delay on the part of the government to release the report had received the attention of sections of the international media, including the New York Times. Public Security Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera having met Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith at the Bishop’s House on Dec 8, 2020 said that the AG would get a copy of the P CoI report once the President received it. Minister Weerasekera said that the CID had handed over the relevant files after having completed investigations into eight blasts. Referring to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) report on the Easter Sunday carnage, the former Navy Chief of Staff said that all such documents would have to be brought to one place and considered before initiating legal proceedings. Acknowledging that there could be delays, lawmaker Weerasekera said that on the instructions of the Attorney General a 12-member team of lawyers was working on the case. The minister vowed to expose the mastermind behind the Easter Sunday attacks. Investigations continued while some of those wanted were overseas, the minister said.
The minister acknowledged that the Attorney General couldn’t proceed without the P CoI report. Minister Weerasekera reiterated that once the President received the P CoI report, it would be sent to the Attorney General. The minister said that there were documents two to three feet high that needed scrutiny. The minister assured comprehensive investigation. The minister said that investigations pertaining to eight blasts had been completed and the reports handed over to the AG. However, the Attorney General had found shortcomings in those investigations.
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By Saman Indrajith
The Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday bombings had failed to identify the mastermind of , the JVP said yesterday.
Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Pelawatte, JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath said that the PCoI report had levelled accusations against former President Maithripala Sirisena, former IGP and head of intelligence for their dereliction of duty, shirking of responsibilities and not taking action to prevent the attacks and negligence. There were reference to the causes of the terror attacks and actions to be taken to avoid such attacks and the influence of extremist organisations. “However, there is no mention of the mastermind of the attacks, the handlers of the attackers and those whose interests the carnage served. It is also not mentioned whether there has been any foreign or local organisation behind those attacks. As per the PCoI report the attack took place as a result of culmination of extremism.
“According to the PCoI the extremist activities were a result of the prevailing political situation then. The entire nation was waiting to see who was responsible and who masterminded those attacks. The PCoI has failed to identify the true culprits responsible for the terror attacks. The report says that the leader of the suicide cadres killed himself in the attacks and it was a puzzle. That means those who are actually responsible for the attacks are still at large. The report does not provide exact details of the sources of the attacks. The PCoI had sittings for one year and five months. It summoned various persons and got their statements but it has failed to shed any light on the terror attacks. Everybody knows that the top leaders of the government and heads of security and intelligence establishments failed in their duties. Ranil Wickremesinghe was the second in command and he too is bound by the responsibility but the PCoI report fails to identify him as one of the persons against whom legal action should be instituted. The PCoI has treated Wickremesinghe and former President Maithripala Sirisena differently. We are not telling that this report is a total failure but we cannot accept this as a complete report. The PCoI handed over its report to the President on Feb 1. After 23 days it was sent to Parliament. Now, a copy of the report is there in the parliamentary library for the perusal of MPs.”
Herath said that the PCoI did not have powers to take punitive action. “It only has powers to name those responsible and recommend action to be taken against those named.
