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Sajith accuses govt. of pushing country towards grave food shortage
By Saman Indrajith
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa told Parliament yesterday that the country was heading for a grave food shortage owing to the government’s move to shift from chemical fertiliser to organic fertiliser.
Making a special statement, the Opposition Leader said the government policy should not be a threat to the country’s food security.
“The government’s decisions should have ensured at least one percent growth in food production in parallel to the population increase. A research conducted by the Batalegoda Agricultural Research Institute has revealed that if the use of chemical fertiliser is completely stopped and cultivation is carried out using only organic fertilisers, the yield will be reduced by 21 to 31 percent. If the research findings are true that would be an indication of an impending food shortage.
As per the switch from chemical to organic, other cultivations including tea, coconut, rubber, vegetables and fruits too will be affected badly and the farmers predict an impending crisis situation in the coming months. The imprudent and unscientific decision of the government not only is paving the way for a crisis but also will impair the country’s name for export crops,” the Opposition Leader said.
Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that there was a mega conspiracy by the agrochemical importers and producers to reverse the government’s decision to promote organic fertilisers.
The Minister said that in the coming days he would expose the conspiracy by producing telephone conversation records and bank reports to prove how money transactions took place between protest leaders and chemical fertiliser importer and producer companies. “The chemical fertiliser mafia is the second biggest mafia in the world. They have money and there are some who are ready to work for them. We will expose this mafia and their henchmen soon,” the minister said.
Minister Aluthgamage said that the government would provide fertilizer to farmers and would never let the country’s agriculture sector collapse as envisaged by those in the opposition with their wishful thinking.
“We will ensure the country’s food security. Some of those in the opposition are painting a picture of the devil with regard to organic fertiliser imports. We as a government will take the responsibility for the imported organic fertilizer. We turned back a ship load of fertiliser because they were not to the required standards. The President took the decision to switch from chemical to organic fertiliser to ensure the right to life of people and some have misunderstood it,” the minister added.
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PM’s office responds to allegations regarding the cancellation of the IYSSE Lecture at Peradeniya University
The Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, categorically denies any involvement in the cancellation of the scheduled lecture organized by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Peradeniya University. Dr. Amarasuriya has consistently championed academic freedom and democratic engagement, values fundamental to fostering critical discourse in educational institutions.
The allegations suggesting that the Prime Minister and Minister of Education influenced the university’s decision to cancel the lecture are entirely baseless and misleading. No directive or instruction was issued from this office regarding the event. The autonomy of academic institutions is a principle that the government is committed to upholding.
Universities must remain places where diverse opinions, including critiques of government policies, can be freely expressed and discussed without fear of suppression.
Nevertheless, we express concern about any action that undermines democratic expression and open dialogue within academic spaces. Dr. Amarasuriya reaffirms her unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of students and educators to engage in meaningful and critical discourse. Upholding these principles is vital to maintaining the trust and confidence of the university community and the public at large.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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Government decides not to liquidate Sri Lanka Thriposha Limited
The Secretary to Ministry of Health and Mass Media has issued a press release stating that the government will not liquidate Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd,
The statement further says that the decision was arrived at after a discussion between the Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayathissa and stakeholders, including the management of the company.
News
Police launches e-Traffic mobile app to combat traffic violations
Police have launched the e-Traffic mobile application, a cutting-edge tool aimed at reducing traffic violations and improving road safety in line with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative. The app was officially launched on Jan 01 by Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, at a ceremony held at the Police Headquarters.
The e-Traffic app empowers the public to report traffic violations and related incidents in real-time. Users can upload photos or videos of offenses using the app’s Camera and Video options. These submissions will be forwarded directly to the Police Headquarters for immediate action.
Key Features and Accessibility – How to Download: The app is available through the E-services section of the official Sri Lanka Police website, [www.police.lk](http://www.police.lk). Reporting Violations: Users can document and report traffic violations, enabling swift responses from relevant authorities. Coverage: Traffic officers stationed at 607 police stations island-wide will act on the complaints submitted via the app.
Meanwhile, the Police Headquarters will investigate reported violations and assign cases to relevant police divisions for legal action. Additionally, the progress of these investigations will be monitored to ensure transparency and effectiveness.
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