News
Maha yield could have been saved if half of USD 6.7 mn paid to China had been utilised for agrochemical imports – MP
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Samagi Jana Balavegaya lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne says nearly two months after Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa rescinded a gazette that prohibited the import of agro chemicals (weedicide and insecticide), the Agriculture Ministry is yet to facilitate their imports.
Addressing a gathering at Rattota, Matale, the MP said yesterday (18) that the Finance Minister issued a fresh gazette soon after the Cabinet of Ministers cleared the way for agro chemical imports.
The former UNPer said that the government owed the farming community an apology for its pathetic failure to make available agro-chemicals.
The MP alleged that those who had perpetrated large scale frauds in the import of contaminated carbonic fertilizer from China and liquid fertilizer from India appeared to have simply side-stepped inquiries. The hard-hitting SJB spokesperson said that the idiotic government still seemed to be convinced commercial level cultivation could be achieved without fertilizer and agro-chemicals.
Lawmaker Kaviratne said in spite big boasts, the SLPP government couldn’t implement its own decisions. The Matale District parliamentarian acknowledged that perhaps the government lacked the wherewithal to import fertilizer as well as agro-chemicals. The MP emphasized even if the farmers had access to fertilizer, the cultivation couldn’t be protected without required agro-chemicals.
Lawmaker Kaviratne said that if the government made available half of the USD 6.7 mn paid for rejected consignment of Chinese carbonic fertilizer, the Maha cultivation could have been saved.
The SJB spokesperson said that the foreign currency crisis was having a serious impact on the national economy.
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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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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