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Agriculture Minister wants research stepped up to garner higher yields
By Ifham Nizam
The responsibility of providing food to the people of the country has been assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture and, therefore, there is a need to expand agricultural research that can achieve higher yields, said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
However, he expressed concern that the Department of Agriculture has been able to supply only 20 percent of the required quality paddy seeds for cultivation.
“To increase the rice yield in the country, that percentage needs to be increased further. The majority of farmers, in our country, are still cultivating the rice they get from their fields,” he added.
The Minister expressed these views while addressing the 2022 Annual Agricultural Conference ASDA – Annals of the Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture), organized by the Department of Agriculture, and held in Gannanoruwa, recently.
This agricultural conference was held under the theme of ‘Seed the Land – Feed the Nation’.
The Minister presented several awards, such as best agronomist, best new agronomist of the year, best agronomist, best research paper, and distinguished agronomist of the year for his contribution to agriculture.
“We know that with the failure of the 2021 season, we are facing a major food crisis. The responsibility of providing food to the people of the country is assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture. But with the current food crisis in the country, that responsibility has increased”.
The Department of Agriculture is conducting research on crops that can yield higher yields, however, he said Sri Lanka should follow the example of countries, like Thailand, Malaysia and Japan.
“We have many researchers who have vast knowledge in the field of agriculture. The country can benefit greatly from the knowledge of those scientists and researchers,” he added.
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Heat index, is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 29 April 2025, valid for 30 April 2025
The general public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Northern, Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala and Hambantota districts
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a four-day state visit to Vietnam on 03 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since the presidential election, President Dissanayake has so far visited India, China and the UAE.
The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday (April 28) in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
The MoD statement: “The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha accompanied by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General (retd.) Muhammad Ali, Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In conjunction with the on-going defence dialogue, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha held a side-line meeting yesterday (April 29) with Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.
The three-day dialogue, which concludes today (April 30), is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.
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