JVP ready to take up Sirisena’s challenge on fertilizer fraud

The JVP yesterday said that it was ready to take up the challenge, thrown by Agricultural Development Minister and SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, on issues relating to large scale fraud in the import of fertilizer.
JVP Kurunegala District Parliamentarian and former Agricultural Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake, addressing a press conference, charged that the Government was trying to hide large scale frauds pertaining to the import of fertilizer by highlighting minor issues"By doing so the Government was safeguarding the real culprits.
There is no point in removing a chairman, as the Minister said, but to investigate large scale fraud and shabby deals", Dissanayake said. He said they would engage in a debate in Parliament on Friday over the fertiliser issue.Pressure will be brought upon any state institution that looks suspicious in its dealings, the MP said.
The price of paddy would increase in June, July and August due to the shabby dealings of the Government. Steps must be taken to have control over paddy prices. He said a certain dealer in paddy was making a profit of Rs 30 million per deal.He charged that the General Manager of the Ceylon Fertiliser Company cancelled a Cabinet decision to purchase fertliser at US dollars 424 per metric ton and purchased it at USD 906 per ton.