Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation K.D. Lal Kantha has dismissed claims that a hotel owned by businessman Dudley Sirisena was the reason Parakrama Samudraya was excluded from this year’s program to remove illegal structures from tank bunds.
Speaking at a public event on Sunday, Lal Kantha said the allegations were baseless and clarified that the selection of reservoirs for the program was based on a set process used by the Department of Irrigation and limited government funding.
“We started the program just yesterday. There are many tanks with illegal constructions, and we’re working in phases,” he said. “This year, we have Rs. 100 million allocated. We can’t cover everything with that.”
Responding to criticism that Sirisena’s hotel near Parakrama Samudraya influenced the decision, the minister said, “No one is above the law when it comes to tank protection, not even Dudley Sirisena.”
While acknowledging Sirisena’s role in maintaining rice supplies in the country, Lal Kantha said the government had concerns over whether fair prices were being paid to paddy farmers.
He noted that the state had recently intervened, offering to purchase paddy at Rs. 120 per kilogram, which led private buyers to raise their prices to Rs. 130 – Rs. 140.
“That decision protected the farmers,” he said. “We have no personal issues, but when justice for farmers is at stake, we will act.”
Lal Kantha added that the removal of illegal structures from tank bunds will continue in stages, and the public should not be misled by politically motivated claims. (Islandnews)
