By Yohan Perera   

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday pledged to  come up with a new poverty alleviation programme under which each poor  family will be granted Rs 20,000 for empowerment.  Speaking during a rally in Seruvila, Mr. Premadasa said the  new programme will comprise each and every positive feature of  Janasaviya, Samurdhi and Aswesuma.   

“New poverty alleviation programme would be based on  savings, investment, empowerment and consumption. Accordingly, each poor  family will be given Rs 20,000 and this has to be used to improve their  economic status in two years,” he said.   

Also, Mr. Premadasa came up with a host of promises for the  farmers and pledged to supply a 50kg bag of fertilizer at Rs 5,000, to  stabilise paddy prices and to write off their loans. He pledged to  refurbish all irrigation tanks. 

He also promised to relieve those who  are affected by the microfinance mafia.   

“Some are asking me as to how I am going to write off loans  of farmers and those who are affected by the microfinance mafia. 

I will make large-scale businessmen who have borrowed huge sums and defaulted pay back their loans. These businessmen are henchmen of powerful politicians. 

They have  got their politician friends to write off their loans. 

I will cancel  these and make them repay if I am elected as the President of this  country,” he said.