Sena caterpillar compensations paid to non-victims?

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The All Ceylon Farmers Federation claims that a majority of farmers who suffered heavy financial losses due to the Sena caterpillar menace, are yet to receive compensation. The national organizer of the Federation, Namal Karunaratna says that all farmers who suffered partial financial losses are yet to receive compensation. Farmers of the Dhamana, Ampara were the worst affected by the Sena caterpillar infection. News 1st made inquiries from the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, regarding the allegations made by the All Ceylon Farmers Federation. The Director General of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, Panduka Weerasinghe stated that a sum of Rs 240mn has already been paid as compensation to the farmers whose crops were completely destroyed by the Sena caterpillar menace. He added that the other compensations are still to be paid and the board has requested Rs 600mn from the government treasury to pay the rest of the compensations to the farmers. Meanwhile, a protest was staged opposite the Monaragala divisional secretariat, demanding compensation to the victims of the Sena caterpillar menace. Protesters accused the authorities that despite the claim that compensations were paid, compensations were paid to non-victims of the Sena menace leaving those who were actually devastated by the infection empty-handed. It was reported that the protest was carried on for about an hour and following a discussion with a representative from the Monaragala District Secretariat, the protesters left the area peacefully. Monaragala District Secretary, S. Padmakulasooriya noted that the first phase of compensations have been paid and the compensation for the partially damaged crops are in the process.