Sajith Claims Farmer Betrayal, Govt Says ‘It’s for the Cows’

COLOMBO (News 1st); A fiery exchange unfolded in Parliament as Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and State Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne locked horns over the government’s maize import policy and its impact on local farmers.

Premadasa criticized the government’s decision to set a guaranteed price of Rs. 140 per kilogram for maize, only to later import 300,000 metric tons, which he claimed caused the market price to plummet to Rs. 120 and even Rs. 115. 

He argued that the timing of the imports undermined local cultivation efforts, which typically take around 110 days to complete.

“Farmers were forced to uproot their crops prematurely and sell them at a loss—some even sold the plants whole for Rs. 25 per kilo,” Premadasa said, highlighting the economic hardship faced by cultivators.

In response, State Minister Namal Karunaratne dismissed the claims, stating that the imported maize was not intended for human consumption or seed use, but specifically cultivated for dairy cattle feed. He emphasized that this was a separate agricultural stream and accused Premadasa of misrepresenting the facts.

“There are two distinct types of maize cultivation—one for grain and one for fodder. What was imported was for livestock feed, not for kernels or seed,” Karunaratne clarified.

He further refuted the claim of 300,000 metric tons being imported, stating that only 253,000 metric tons were brought in last year, and the forecast for this year is approximately 67,000 metric tons. 

Karunaratne also noted that local maize cultivation has increased, and farmers now receive a 30% profit margin under the current system.