ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka’s farmers are facing shocking regulatory barrier to remove sand from their own flooded paddy fields and pay 21,000 rupees, to an official for approval, a farmer leader told a television stations.
In the Ampara area, for example, 2,000 acres of paddy fields were flooded and damaged, Ananda Jayaratne, District vice president of the Gal Oya and Akkaraipaththu farmer society, told Sri Lanka’s Derana Television in an interview.
Some of the remaining fields could be saved if sand blocking water could be removed to ready the field for re-cultivation as there were people willing to buy the sand, he said.
“Sand has been deposited on 1,997 acres of paddy fields, this is about 6,138 cubes of sand. If we don’t remove this immediately we will face a rice shortage in the future,” Jayaratne said.
“First the govi niyamana officer came and measured it. Then we go to the grama sevaka, she came and measured it. Then we take these information to the govi jana development officer. Then the DO comes back, and he’s available only on Mondays.”
After all the evaluations, farmers must take the duly filled application to the Irrigation Engineer’s Office 40km away for endorsement, he said, where the additional assistant engineer is also required to second it which takes a week.
“Then they come see the field again. We have to then take the form and go to AC madam Asssitant commissioner, then to pradeshiya lekam.”
Next they must go to the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, where again, the officer is available for area on a weekly basis.
“He will come visit the field to decide if the sand can be removed, and we must pay him 21,000 for the visit. If it is approved, we must pay 742 rupees for each sand trailer.”
“By that time we are done.”
If the sand is not removed in time the earthworms will appear in the sand, he said, and “then no sand contractors will take the sand, and the famers will have to spend their money to remove the sand. (Colombo/Jan30/2025)
Continue Reading
