In a move that has raised questions about its legality, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the Treasury to provide a Rs. 25,000 per hectare allowance to paddy farmers for the upcoming Maha season of 2024/25.
This new initiative, set to take effect on 1 October, will increase the fertilizer subsidy from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per hectare.
The funds are to be directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts to ensure efficiency and timely delivery.
Additionally, the President has directed the implementation of a fuel subsidy for the fishing community, also effective from 1 October. This subsidy will be available on a monthly basis for both multi-day and one-day fishing vessels, with the funds similarly deposited directly into the fishermen’s bank accounts.
While these initiatives are being framed as measures to support sustainable agriculture and fishing industries, concerns have been raised about the timing of these financial disbursements. Given that the general election has already been declared, this could be seen as a violation of election law, which prohibits the government from making financial promises or distributing new subsidies during an election period.