• Welimada, Uva Paranagama, Keppetipola, N’Eliya potato and onion farmers groups up in arms over lack of fair mkt. price 

Farmers across several areas, including Welimada and Uva Paranagama, withdrew from agricultural activities yesterday (10), alleging that the Government has failed to provide reasonable solutions to their issues and that next year’s (2026) Budget has neglected the agricultural sector.

Farmers’ organisations comprising farmers from several areas including Welimada and Uva Paranagama also staged a protest in the Keppetipola Town yesterday morning.

Although the harvesting of potatoes and onions has already commenced, farmers have been voicing concerns over the past few weeks, claiming that there is no fair market price for their produce. They further alleged that the Government has made them destitute by allowing the importation of potatoes and onions during the local harvest season.

Farmers also charged that the 2026 Budget has paid insufficient attention to addressing key agricultural issues.

Accordingly, the ‘Voice of the Farmers of the Country’ organisation, comprising farmer groups from Welimada and Nuwara Eliya, announced on 9 November that they would engage in trade union action by suspending all agricultural activities yesterday, as their longstanding issues remain unresolved.