President pledges to increase farmers’ income by 100%

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today urged the people of Anuradhapura to place their trust in him and the government, as he pledged to increase the farmers’ income by 100%.

It came during the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s first rally for the year, titled “Public Rally 2022” which kicked off at the Salgado Stadium in Anuradhapura this evening.

“When I did my first public rally for the presidential campaign here, I promised that fertilizer will be given free of charge and paddy will be given a certified price.”

The President vowed to increase the income of the farming community by 100%, with or without fertilizer.

Speaking further, he blamed those who were in power over the last five years for not doing anything for the agricultural sector. “They are now trying to drag the country down by lying to the farmers with their illusions of the presidency.”

President Rajapaksa criticized the former administration for destroying the national security established in the country, as well as the intelligence agencies. “It ended with the Easter Sunday bombing.”

The former government betrayed the country’s war heroes and they forfeited Sri Lanka’s sovereignty before the international community, he alleged, noting that his administration managed to rid all these things within the last two years after it came to power.

He appealed to the members of the public to join him and place their trust in him.

“There are local and international forces trying to divide the government and sabotage the journey the country is currently on.”

Speaking on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that plagued the entire world, the President said, “As a leader, and as a government, we have to face the new challenges. We have faced these challenges.”

He said many people have now resorted to strike actions due to the influence of various forces. “I urge them to look at the people because your responsibility is not towards the government but towards the people.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also addressed the rally, called on the opposition to leave aside conspiracies and to battle the government on equal grounds.