A tense atmosphere prevailed in the Angunukolapelessa area yesterday after a group of people protested against a ‘farmers’ conference’ organized by the National Farmers’ Conference at the Angunukolapelessa Uswewa Gemi Diriya Community Hall. Its convener, Wimal Wattuhewa, was scheduled to address the conference.
The group that stormed the community hall claimed that the National Farmers’ Conference, which was holding the program, was actually organized by an affiliate of the Frontline socialist Party. (Peratugami Party)
The conference was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and the organizers were at the venue by 10.30 a.m.
Meanwhile, a group of about 60 people who rushed to the venue questioned what was going on and when the organizers said that they were holding a farmers’ awareness conference, an argument broke out, which created a tense situation.
The group said that the current government had only been in power for three months and was addressing issues affecting farmers. They accused the organizers of the conference of trying to sabotage the government’s progress. They demanded that the conference be immediately called off.
Hambantota District Organizer of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation, Sunil Ratnayake, who was among the group of people who protested the conference, said that the government had provided a fair guaranteed price for paddy that was acceptable to farmers and consumers.
“This government was brought to power by the farmers and they have now received a fair price for paddy. The Frontline Party is trying to sabotage the government’s progress. We will not allow it,” he said.
However, the convener of the conference, Wimal Wattuhewa, said that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had shown its usual propensity for violence, and he had to suspend the conference.