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Sajith promises free fertiliser for all farmers
View(s):New Democratic Front (NDF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa yesterday said his chief opponent Gotabaya Rajapaksa had vowed to provide free fertiliser to farmers when he was not even aware of the current price they were paying.
Sajith Premadasa addressing the business community at Shangri La Colombo on Friday. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Speaking at election rallies in Rattota and Laggala yesterday, he said, Gotabaya Rajapaksa was not aware that fertilizer was being provided at Rs 500 a bag and not at Rs 350.
Mr. Premadasa promised to provide free fertiliser for all the farmers including fruit, vegetable, coconut and tea cultivators if he was elected as the president.
Claiming that his victory was inevitable because the people were seeking youth representation, he pledged to come up with programmes to boost small and medium-scale entrepreneurs.
In addition, he said, the youth would be empowered to play a role in the economy sector. He said he would establish industrial estates in every divisions to gain foreign direct investment and also to create jobs for the youth.
Mr. Premadasa said that in Sri Lanka female migrant workers were mainly employed overseas as domestic aides. They worked under much difficulty and therefore, a women’s charter would be introduced with laws to ensure womens’ rights, Mr. Premadasa said. He said he planned to meet world leaders to discuss the issues faced by Sri Lankan women workers to find solutions.
“We need to go forward with modern information technology. We will create a new era in governance by setting up new technical colleges,”he said.
The UNP candidate pledged that in addition to Samurdhi, the Janasaviya programme would be revived to provide more relief to the poverty-stricken people.
Explaining his vision for the country, Mr Premadasa said a majority of Sri Lankans were lower class and middle class people. “My father enhanced their lives and now I want to continue that. The country’s leader must understand the common man’s pain and tears. Despite the class difference, I will stand up with the poor and the middle class people to uplift their lives,” he said, adding that he would rebuild the nation by reviving villages.
Mr. Premadasa said if he became the president, he would devote his life to serve the people, while the opposition was trying to establish neopotism.
He said he was committed to protect children between the ages of 1 and 5 as this age group was thmost important segment of a child’s growth. He added a national programme would be implemented to tackle child and infant malnutrition.
Mr. Premadasa vowed he would keep his promises and would make a difference in the upcoming election.