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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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Farmers continue with death fast Thirteen farmers including a 75-year old woman on a hunger strike since Friday demanding the price of urea fertiliser be brought down, have vowed to continue with their death fast until their demands are met. The farmers commenced agitating for a reduction in fertiliser rates and adjustment in fertiliser subsidy on January 19 in the Polonnaruwa district, and extended their campaign to several other districts within two to three days. The key demands of the ACPF include the price of a 50Kg bag of urea fertiliser be brought down to Rs. 500, the prices of other fertiliser varieties be reduced, timely adjustments to fertiliser subsidy be introduced and a committee comprising representatives of Government, fertiliser companies and farmer organisations be appointed. Vice Chairman of the Federation Namal Karunaratne said that they would accept a government invitation for discussion if the Finance Minister, Deputy Finance Minister and Finance Ministry Secretary were in the team. He also claimed that the Agriculture Minister had accepted that the price of fertiliser should be reduced to Rs. 500 but, had not made any effort to bring it down. Karunaratne also said that neither Finance Minister K.N. Choksy nor Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunawardene had responded to letters sent by the ACPF requesting a dialogue between the federation and the Government. -DW |
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