News
Food shortage ‘Gotabaya-made disaster’- JVP
By Saman Indrajith
The JVP says that the food shortage in the country is nothing but a ‘Gotabaya-made disaster.’
Addressing a press conference held at the party headquarters in Pelawatte on Tuesday, the JVP National Organiser and former MP Bimal Ratnayake said that all prevailing problems could not be attributed to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The prevailing food shortage is because of the ill-advised decision made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa with regard to organic fertilizers. COVID-19 had nothing to do with it. The food crisis is nothing but a ‘Gotabaya-made disaster,” Ratnayake said.
He said that the decision made by the President was a short-sighted imprudent act. “There is a shortage of food items in the market. The shortage was created by a policy decision to shift from chemical to organic fertilizers on an ad hoc basis resulting in disruption of cultivations. The shortage resulted in price increases. The government has puppets as ministers who cannot control the market prices. It is Dudley Sirisena who decides the prices of paddy and rice. Some private companies providing goods and services too do the same. They decide the prices of their products as they wish while the ministers cannot do anything about it. As a result of this the products do not get their deserving price and they are sold at exorbitant prices enabling the middlemen to fleece the public at their will,” Ratnayake said.
He said that people should line up with the JVP to change the status quo immediately without waiting for the total collapse of the system.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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