By Yohan Perera

SJB does not have to wait till it comes into power to work for people as it is already receiving assistance from foreign countries, Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said over the weekend.

Speaking during the launch of SJB's Agriculture Policy " Samagi Govi Jana Prakashaya" in Polonnaruwa over the weekend, Premadasa said his party has received assistance from foreign countries to carry out development work for the first time in Sri Lanka's history. "We have foreign assistance for its Husma' program under which medical equipment is provided to rural hospitals and Sakwala program under which rural schools are digitalized.  I have heard that one local political leader had asked people to wait till he comes to power as he will get assistance from various countries. However SJB is already getting foreign assistance being in the opposition," Mr. Premadasa said.
He said the Samagi Govi Jana Prakashaya will not be confined to a paper but will be put into practice soon. " We will restore the status which the farmer community has lost, we shall introduce and promote the manufacture of second and third generation agriculture products and will give the farmers the opportunity of selling their product to foreign markets, We will also lift the ban on chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides and will import quality stuff. At the same time farmers who prefer organic farming will be assisted," he added.

 " I will take charge of ministries of agriculture, irrigation under a future SJB government. We will also stop the political culture of forming political alliances for the sole purpose of merely allocating ministries among the allies" he said.