The main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), expressed opposition against the Government’s newly adopted conditions for purchasing big onions, claiming that these conditions have resulted in a challenging situation for farmers.

Addressing a press briefing held yesterday (30), SJB Parliamentarian Harshana Rajakaruna questioned how scientific and practical this move is. “The Government has imposed conditions for purchasing big onions. Accordingly, the diameter of a big onion purchased by the Government should be 35-65 millimetres (mm). At the same time, conditions have been imposed on the purchase of big onions with a diameter higher than 65 mm and lower than 35 mm. Moreover, the Government has imposed conditions on onion farmers that as per purchase-related standards, a kilogram of big onions should include eight onions,” he said, adding that the conditions imposed on the purchase of big onions are causing pressure on the farmers.