"Sena caterpillars are an effort to cripple the government" - MP Chaminda Wijesiri

Colombo (News1st): The Sena Caterpillar menace was subjected to a debate in parliament today (January 22). The debate took place following a statement made by the opposition leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Opposition leader speaking in parliament requested the house to focus their attention towards matters, such as informing the farmers immediately regarding the spread of the caterpillar epidemic and the threat it poses to their crops and cultivation. Rajapaksa also called on the Government to formulate a method to provide compensation for the affected farmers after assessing the losses caused. He noted that they as the politicians in the country must look into writing off the debt of farmers, whose crops have been devastated, and providing sufficient monthly financial incentives for farmers until their next harvest. Rajapaksa believed that the measures taken by the prime minister and his government will be conveyed to the house by the respective ministers of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development. The leader of the house Minister Lakshman Kiriella adding to this noted that at the moment, the president along with the subject minister, are holding discussions with the relevant officials, as to how the Sena caterpillar menace should be addressed. He added that due to the former president 's inquiry, they will submit a detailed explanation tomorrow (January 23). UPFA MP Mahinda Amaraweera speaking regarding the epidemic requested for a special meeting considering everyone's ideas and opinions. He added that this matter must be debated in parliament one day. Lakshman Kiriella noted that all of it including compensation for the farmers in distress were discusses during the cabinet meeting. He noted that the topic can be debated all week if needed. UPFA MP Shehan Semasinghe claimed that the Sena caterpillar species spread to Sri Lanka, due to the importation of corn seeds in 2018, he called on the Government to table in Parliament the names of the individuals who imported these seeds, approved these seeds entering the country as well as the quarantine reports on the seeds. UNP MP Chaminda Wijesiri had this to say regarding the prevailing Sena epidemic in the country; "I suspect that the spreading of the Sena caterpillar species is an effort to cripple the present government. Similar to the creation of Namal Kumara, in the recent past.." MP Wimal Weerawansa responded to this statement by calling on the Government to conduct an investigation into wether the opposition was reponsible for the droughts that devastated cultitvations last year.