News

MONLAR urges govt. to drop contradictory policies if serious about banning agrochemicals

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/8

The Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, urging him to put in place a mechanism to coordinate various institutions that are needed to to make Sri Lanka the first nation to ban the use of toxic agrochemicals.

Given that there is no systematic government programme to promote carbonic agriculture among farmers, it is quite likely that many obstacles and challenges, in the short, medium, and long term to implement the programme will arise. The government must come up with a plan that addresses these challenges and mechanism that can lead to a change in attitudes and grassroot realities, MONLAR says.

“MONLAR commends the decision taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, on 27 April 2021, to ban the import of all agrochemicals with immediate effect. We are also grateful for your decision to approve the said Cabinet decision on 29 April 2021,” Chinthaka Rajapakshe, Moderator – MONLAR said in the letter to the President.

He says that the use of agrochemicals has had disastrous consequences in the past decades. The widespread use of these chemicals has contaminated soil and water, which has directly led to the increase in cancers and kidney diseases. This has not only negatively affected public health but also led to the overuse of agrochemicals besides undermining food sovereignty, unraveling the ecological balance, and causing the extinction of many animal and plant species.

“Since almost all agricultural inputs, used by Sri Lankan farmers are imported, it has allowed certain companies to build oligopolies. Currently, agriculture accounts for about 7% of the GDP but about 26% of the workforce are involved in agriculture. Often these workers are poor and receive government welfare assistance; most of them are malnourished and in the clutches of microcredit companies. MONLAR believes that promoting environmentally friendly agricultural practices can be a solution to all these problems.”

If the government is serious about banning agrochemicals and promoting environmentally friendly agriculture, it needs to convince the people that the decision to ban agrochemicals will not change when the political and economic context changes, MONLAR has said, pointing out that since coming into power the government has taken several contradictory decisions on agriculture.

“For example, the government initially announced that agrochemicals would be given to farmers free of charge and now it has banned them. Last year, the government said it would not allow fertiliser with heavy metals to enter the market but then it released 18,000 metric tons of fertiliser containing high amounts of heavy metals. These are only some of the policy contradictions.

Rajapakshe says in the MONLAR letter to the President that in the recent past, the government has given large tracts of land and water to companies and investors to expand large scale monoculture crops such as maize and sugarcane. These cultivations do require significant volumes of agrochemicals.

“A few months later, a decision has been taken to ban the import of agrochemicals. The government must clearly tell the public how it plans to rectify these contradictions,” he said.

Rajapakshe adds that if given an opportunity the MONLAR is ready to share with the government its experience with environmentally friendly agricultural practices.

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Latest News

USS Canberra makes port call in Colombo

Published

10 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The United States Navy’s USS Canberra (LCS 30) arrived at the port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 12 Jun 26.

The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy
in compliance of naval traditions.

USS Canberra, a Littoral Combat Ship, is commanded by Commander J McLaughlin.

News

Complete the Proposed Education Reform Policy Framework Within One Month – President

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to complete work on the proposed Education Reform Policy Framework within one month.

The President issued these instructions during a discussion held on Wednesday (10 June) at the Presidential Secretariat on the education policy concept paper presented by the National Education Commission.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the National Education Commission stated that the current education reforms are being undertaken across several pillars: early childhood education, general education (primary, secondary and tertiary), higher education, vocational education, technological education, digital education and non-formal education.

Attention was also given to Sri Lanka’s education system to date, the various education reforms implemented over the years, and the social changes brought about by those reforms. The President instructed officials to review previous education reforms and to take into account the key lessons emerging from them when formulating the new education policy framework.

Members of the Education Commission noted that, since the establishment of the National Education Commission in 1991, education policies have been formulated from time to time. They pointed out that a significant portion of the 1997 policy had been applied to primary education.

It was further observed that although a policy was formulated in 2016 for general education, it was not implemented accordingly. Likewise, while an education policy was prepared in 2023, it was not adopted as the national education policy. Attention was also drawn to the fact that previous education reform efforts had often been based on programmes developed according to the functions of education-related institutions, rather than on a clearly established policy framework guiding educational change.

Describing the present moment as a significant opportunity, the President emphasised that education reforms should be implemented in a manner that does not disrupt the continuity of the existing education process. Rather than creating a separate policy framework and attempting to operate independently through it, reforms should be integrated carefully into the functioning education system.

The President stated that this represents a considerable challenge for the National Education Commission. He also noted that it would be inaccurate to conclude that either the previous education system or the current one is entirely successful or entirely unsuccessful.

He stressed the importance of carefully identifying both the strengths and weaknesses of the existing system. He further observed that it is not possible to determine in the short term whether an education reform is successful or unsuccessful, as its impact must be assessed over the long term through the changes it brings about in society. For this reason, he emphasised that education reforms require greater caution and consideration than many other types of reforms.

Discussions also focused on the need to conduct an in-depth review of anticipated future social challenges and to incorporate into the new policy framework the elements necessary for developing citizens suited to a changing society.

Special attention was given to the need for a policy framework to regulate all sectors of education that are currently not subject to proper regulation, as well as to the adverse consequences arising from the lack of regulation of private education.

The importance of conducting research into university education reform and the regulation of private universities was also discussed.

Among those present were Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Madhura Seneviratne, Deputy Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage, Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Chairman of the National Education Commission Professor A. Sarath Ananda, and other members of the National Education Commission.

(PMD)

Business

Committee appointed for restructuring SriLankan Airlines

Published

11 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a Committee, chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, to conduct a strategic review and restructuring of SriLankan Airlines.

The other members of the committee are as follows:

• Senior Presidential Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa

• Financial and corporate strategy expert Deshal De Mel

• Transaction and investment banking, mergers and acquisitions expert Dumith Fernando

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance or his Representative

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development / a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority

• The Chairman of SriLankan Airlines

• Legal experts with specialised knowledge in corporate, aviation and public law

• Aviation industry experts to be appointed

The Government has recognised the urgent priority of undertaking a comprehensive strategic review of SriLankan Airlines, taking into account the broader macroeconomic context.

The main objective of this exercise is to establish a financially sustainable and commercially efficient national carrier, while reducing the long-term fiscal burden on the Government.

Accordingly, it has been deemed appropriate to establish a dedicated committee to carry out the strategic review and restructuring process in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is serving as the Transaction Advisor.

The committee will be responsible for:

• Conducting an independent review and assessment of the airline’s strategic direction and future course of action

• Recommending restructuring requirements and possible restructuring models

• Evaluating specific strategic options and identifying the most suitable course of action aligned with the Government’s overall objectives

• Providing oversight, guidance and support for the implementation of the selected strategy and execution framework determined by the Government

The committee will function for the duration of the strategic review and restructuring process, or until it is formally dissolved by the Government of Sri Lanka.

(PMD)