The Election Commission has suspended the President’s decision to provide a Rs. 25,000 per hectare allowance to paddy farmers for the Maha season, along with a fuel subsidy for the fishing community, Mawbima newspaper reported, citing Commission member M.A.P.C. Perera.
Mr. Perera noted that the Commission will request the President to delay the announcement of these policy measures until after the upcoming General Election.
The decision to pause the plan was made during a Commission meeting last Saturday.
The suspended proposal included an increase in the allowance for paddy farmers from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per hectare, as well as a fuel subsidy for fishing trips, benefiting both multi-day and one-day vessels.
These subsidies were originally set to be implemented starting October 1, according to the government’s policy statement.
