Sri Lanka, June 24 -- Paddy prices are determined by market demand and supply although the heartbeat of the farmer is felt very well.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne stated this when journalists questioned him after the Kurunegala District Development Committee meeting regarding why the government remains silent despite farmers protesting that there is no set government price for their produce.

Speaking further, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture stated:

"When we took over the government, the production cost of paddy was 99.75. The government had fixed the price of a kilo of paddy at Rs. 110.00. The government did not buy paddy either. It was under such circumstances that we took over the government. Afte...