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Farmers file FR against drought relief only for Monaragala
Sep 15, 201405:05 PM
The All-Island Farmers Federation (AIFF) today (15) filed a petition at the Supreme Court seeking an order to pressure the authorities to provide Rs 2,500 as relief for drought affected people in the island nation, which is currently being suggested to provide only for the Monaragala district.
The petitioners argued that the Fundamental Rights (FR) of the drought affected people have been violated with the authorities have allocated money exclusively for the Monaragala district. The petition has named a group of people including the Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Development as respondents in the case.
Last week the government had halted the programme, which provides drought affected people in the Monaragala District with Rs 2,500, due to a request made by the Election Commissioner. The Commissioner citied it as an obstruction for a free and fair election as the province preparing for polls in next week.
However, the Supreme Court gave the green light for the recommencing of the program, and instructed the government to carry it out without any political interference, on 12 Sept.
While instructing that the relief distribution be carried out without any political interference, the SC also informed the Monaragala District Secretary to avoid involving any candidates or political party representatives in the process.
