News
MONLAR: Govt. does not care to ensure food security
‘Forest lands given to big businesses’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government had not introduced mechanisms to ensure a stable and adequate food supply although almost a year has passed since Sri Lanka became affected by Covid-19, Moderator of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), Chinthaka Rajapakshe told The Island yesterday, commenting on soaring food prices.
Rajapakshe said that if the government had worked according to a strategy, it could have increased the production of food and come up with better distribution networks last year.
“The government has shown its incompetence by not straightening up the distribution network and introducing price control mechanisms. One year is more than enough to produce 90% of the food the country needs. We also have the resources, experience and knowledge to achieve this goal. The only thing lacking is proper government planning.”
The government continued to hand over some forest land and the lands used by small farmers to large agro businesses, Rajapakshe said, adding that the government had earmarked 800,000 acres of land to be given to corporations; those lands mainly consisted of forests, chenas and pastures. “The President is facilitating this process through his Gama Samaga Pilisandara programme, which is an attempt to mislead the people by giving them false promises and some relief. Gotabaya tells people it is all right to cultivate forest land under the Forest Conservation Department and instructs officials not to punish people who send their cattle into forests. People walk away feeling good but a few months later big corporations would take over those lands.”
The MONLAR Moderator said that they had conducted a survey on the lands given to corporations by the incumbent government last year. Most of the lands are those used by cattle herders and chena cultivators.
“These big companies cultivate crops like corn and their produce does not help ensure the country’s food security. Moreover, the government cannot exert any influence over these big businesses. For example, it issued several gazettes last year stipulating prices on some varieties of rice but big millers did not heed them. We simply don’t have the power to influence the market. The government has tried to replace public servants with retired Army officers in a bid to convince the people that it has got tough with big businessmen.
The MONLAR Moderator added that early last year the government had encouraged home gardening during lockdowns. However since the government had no plan or policy to make it sustainable, the home gardening project fell through.
A consignment of 134 single cabs gifted by the Government of India under the Indo–Sri Lanka Friendship Programme for the use of the Sri Lanka Police was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (25) morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
The Government of India has incurred an expenditure of approximately LKR.300 million for this initiative and the vehicles are scheduled to be distributed among police stations in the Northern Province.
Speaking at the occasion, Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha stated that similar assistance would continue to be extended to Sri Lanka in the future.
In appreciation of this gift by the Government of India, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya presented a commemorative memento to Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.
Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananda Wijepala, Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Sunil Watagala, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, General Manager of DIMO Rajeev Pandithage, officials of the Indian High Commission and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Police were also present at the occasion.
(PMD)
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Landslide Early Warnings issued to the Districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura extended till 1600 hrs on Tuesday [26]
The National Building Reasearch Organisation [NBRO] has extended the landslide early warnings issued to the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura till 1600 hrs on Tuesday 26th May 2026.
Accordingly,
The LEVEL II [AMBER] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Dehiowita, Deraniyagala, Ruwanwella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kuruwita, Ratnapura, Ayagama and Eheliyagoda in the Ratnapura district and
The LEVEL I [YELLOW] landslide early warnings issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka and Padukka in the Colombo district, Attanagalla in the Gampaha district, Palindanuwara, Mathugama, Bulathsinhala, Agalawatta, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Bulathkohupitiya in the Kegalle district, Ambagamuwa in the Nuwara Eliya district and Kiriella, Pelmadulla, Nivithigala, Elapatha and Kalawana in the Ratnapura district have been extended.
The much-delayed Provincial Council (PC) elections cannot be held this year due to financial and legal constraints, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has said in Jaffna.Silva said so, fielding questions from journalists after the opening of the NPP coordination office in the Jaffna District on Saturday.
When asked whether the government was under Indian pressure to conduct the Provincial Council elections soon, Silva answered in the negative, claiming that Sri Lankan and Indian governments maintained close and friendly relations with a strong level of understanding.
He said budgetary allocations had been made for the PC elections, but the government had been compelled to divert resources for disaster relief following the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. According to Silva, nearly Rs. 500 billion had to be allocated for relief measures, making it difficult to hold the elections this year. He further said legal complications in the electoral reform process had also contributed to the delay in holding the PC elections, noting that a parliamentary committee had been appointed to determine the electoral systems under which the PC polls should be conducted. Once the committee submitted its report and if no further issues arose, the elections could possibly be held next year, he said.
Silva also said the government had taken measures to strengthen reconciliation and development in the North by releasing lands previously occupied by military camps and improving road infrastructure.He added that empowerment initiatives were being implemented under the Praja Shakthi programme and that both Sri Lanka and India were continuing to work in close cooperation.
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