Farmers threaten to fast unto death

By Dileep Jayasekara - Suriyawewa   

Farmer organisations that accused Minister Chamal Rajapaksa of failing to declare the proposed elephant management zone in Hambantota by Gazette notification as promised during their recent protest, warned that they would resume their fast unto death on Tuesday (23).   

Secretary of the Walawa Joint Farmer Organisation Saman Sudarshana said they called off the fast unto death depending on the minister’s promise to declare the elephant management zone. He said the Minister and his officials were attempting to deceive the farmers.   “We are not prepared to trust the Minister and his officials any more. More than 85 farmer organisations in the Walawa Joint Farmer Organisation have decided to resume the fast unto death and the Satyagraha campaign,” he said.   Representatives of Farmer Organisations said they would continue their campaign until their demand was met.