Sajith pledges new poverty alleviation programme, relief for farmers

Colombo, August 26 (Daily Mirror) - Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa today 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 businessmen. 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.