Sri Lanka, June 30 -- The rice/paddy issue has again come to the fore with those TV channels connected to the Opposition unceasingly telecasting demonstrations by famers in various areas in the country making various demands.

One day, they show paddy farmers agitating for fertiliser at concessionary prices while demanding on another day higher prices for their product - paddy. They also demand the Paddy marketing Board (PNB) to purchase their paddy, blaming the rice mill owners for lowering paddy prices to an unaffordable level.

Agriculture Minister K.D.Lalkantha argued that the current paddy marketing issue is not something that affects the farmers as they have already sold their paddy to the traders who are now struggling to sell i...