The government is planning to scrap the fertiliser subsidy, the UNP said yesterday. Kalutara District UNP MP, Sarath Ranawaka told a news conference in Colombo, that the government having promised to boost agricultural production was cooking up excuses to deprive the farmers of the meagre fertiliser subsidy. "As in the case of all promises made under the Mahinda Chintana, the stage is being set to forget the fertiliser subsidy as well." The government's answer to the economic crisis, strikes, corruption, waste and serious human rights violations is to increase taxes, intimidate workers and assault journalists who dare expose them, he said. "The economy is heading for a serious breakdown in the absence of any income generating projects being initiated. The situation has been further confounded with money being printed haphazardly. This has resulted in inflation and the prices of goods and services skyrocketing." Commenting on the conduct of recent elections, Ranawaka said that the people have been robbed of their democratic right to franchise. "The government has been winning elections by resorting to violence, intimidation and ballot rigging. Such superficial victories do not reflect the true will of the people."