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Collective Ecological Agriculture: The solution to Lanka’s food crisis

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/5

Dr.N.M.Perera Memorial Oration – 2022

Dr.N.M.Perera Memorial Oration is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow (June 06 -which happens to be NM’s Birthday) at 10.00 am at the Dr.N.M.Perera Memorial Centre, in Borella by Dr.C.M.Wijayaratne (BSc, MSc – Leeds UK, Phd Cornell, USA, Consultancies-South and East Asia, Africa.)

LSSP leader Prof Tissa Vitarana in a statement issued to the media on the event said: “When the people of Sri Lanka are badly hit by the economic crisis and the pandemic another blow is predicted. This is a severe food crisis. Already the food price rise has affected the people leading to cutting the food intake of the majority of the people drastically. About half the population manage with one meal a day and the malnutrition rate has gone up to about 20%. Thus beside the immediate problem of hunger, the future generations too will be badly affected. Long standing dependence on chemical fertilizer and imported seed varieties together with the use of modern equipment, dependent on foreign fuel supply, has hit the farmer badly. The prediction is that this year the Yala crop will be reduced by more than half. This situation has also affected other third world countries.

A similar food crisis accompanied the severe economic crisis of 1972. For instance at that time when we were more dependent on imports than now, the magnitude of the food crisis led to the importation of a ton of sugar, which was around £ 40, to rise to £ 600. Dr.N.M.Perera as the Minister of Finance informed the people of the magnitude of the crisis and assured the people that he would take necessary action to emerge from the crisis. The Foreign Exchange Reserve had dropped to USD 1.3 billion and the availability of dollars to buy the bulk of our food requirements from abroad became impossible. On his insistence imports of all non-essentials were banned. This reduced the drain of the dollars, so that the required food and other essentials could be imported. With the support of the Minister of Agriculture, Hector Kobbekaduwa, an intensive grow more food campaign was launched and it received the enthusiastic cooperation of the entire society. Dr.N.M.Perera raised the allocation for Science and Technology to promote value added industries making use of local raw materials, under the leadership of Mr.T.B.Subasinghe, the Minister of Industries.

Dr.N.M.Perera placed the burden of the economic recovery on the rich and spared the poor. He did this by raising the tax maximum to 75% and spared the poor by not having indirect taxation like VAT. The BTT indirect tax was also directed to the higher income companies. The Government promoted both producer cooperatives as well as consumer cooperatives and the left inclined population saw to it that the cooperative movement functioned efficiency and was free of corruption. Direct communication between the two eliminated the huge profits that are being made by the middlemen and traders today. In addition the Marketing and the Food Control Departments were activised and they also helped to provide a mobile service to link the producer and the consumer.

Little or no assistance was received from abroad. By 1974/75 the Foreign Reserve have went up to USD 3.5 billion and the economy became stable with no budget deficit in 1974 and a budget surplus in 1975. In recognition of the yeoman service done by Dr.N.M.Perera and the LSSP (Lanka Sama Samaja Party) the reward was the forcing out of Dr.N.M.Perera from the post of Finance Minister and the kicking out of the LSSP. This was because the “International Community” led by the USA, Britain and other foreign imperialist powers, stated that they were prepared to invest in Sri Lanka now that the economy was stable. The Communist Party left the coalition in 1976. You may wonder why the imperialist powers insisted on the ejection of the LSSP and Dr.N.M.Perera as a condition for their investing in Sri Lanka. One was the nationalization of the plantations and the key sectors of the economy, thereby putting an end to much of the direct exploitation of our economy and people. The other main reason was the implementation of the Senaka Bibile Medicinal Drug Policy. The latter by calling for international tenders by the State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC), which Senaka had set up, the whole island’s requirement of medicine was obtained at a low price. The bulk purchase of such a large quantity led to the medicinal drug mafia (the multinational corporations) having to cut their profits to a large extent. For instance the Roche Company of Switzerland, the producer of the sedative Valium (their trade name for the generic product diazepam) was forced to drop their selling price from 92 cents per tablet to 52 cents. The Ranbaxy Company of India tendered to sell it for only for 2 cents. When we confirmed that this product had received a certificate of good manufacturing practice the decision was taken to test it here and, as it proved effective, it was ordered in bulk by the SPC from Ranbaxy. The Roche Company lost 90 cents while it became possible to use that 90 cents to obtain other medicines for our patients. Not surprisingly the LSSP is hated by the capitalist class both here and abroad.

The scarcity and high prices for food today in Sri Lanka is not due to a global drought as was the cause then. It is due to bungling in decision making and the dependence on agriculture based on foreign inputs, like chemical fertilizer, weedicides, pesticides and the use of imported seed varieties that are dependent on them. There are many companies and persons that make a huge profit out of this system of agriculture. Both the farmers and the consumers are exploited by the producers and dealers who employ these foreign inputs. The suggestion that we should turn towards organic farming based on a totally different system using local resources has been ridiculed by the profiteers. Unfortunately many Sri Lankan scientists and researchers who have been trained abroad also support this point of view. We are happy that an eminent Sri Lankan scientist and agriculturalist of international eminence is visiting Sri Lanka for a few days, despite his busy schedule abroad, Dr.C.M.Wijayaratne. He is in high demand in various countries that seek to get away from this dependence on foreign input agriculture. He is at this moment transforming agriculture on the basis of his concept of “collective ecological agriculture” as a solution to dependence on foreign inputs throughout many third world countries in South and East Asia, and Africa. For instance in Pakistan his project covers an area larger than Sri Lanka and in India he is operating in several different states and also in countries like Vietnam and Sudan.

He is scheduled to deliver the Dr.N.M.Perera Memorial Oration on the 06th of June (which happens to be NM’s Birthday) at 10.00 am at the Dr.N.M.Perera Memorial Centre. I have great pleasure in inviting everybody who is interested to attend this meeting. Perhaps ultimately Sri Lanka too will get the benefits of his knowledge, wisdom and commitment in the interest of ensuring that the people of our country will get out of this food crisis and from hunger permanently.

Tissa Vitarana

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A new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly – PM

Published

11 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly and to regulate preschools through a regulatory authority.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing an awareness programme for preschool teachers in the Hambantota District on education reforms, held on Sunday (15) at the Ambalantota Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium.

During the programme, preschool teachers briefed the Prime Minister about the challenges they currently face. Responding to their concerns, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

“The issues within the preschool system cannot be discussed separately from the broader crisis in society and in the education sector. When we assumed office in 2024, our primary challenge was to free the country from its debt burden and to establish. a sound economic indicators.

Although 2025 was a challenging year, we were able to bring the country’s economy to a certain level of stability and manage the national budget accordingly.

While we were working towards economic recovery, the war in the Middle East began, which has had certain impacts on our country as well.

A significant amount of Sri Lanka’s foreign remittances come from our fellow citizens working in the Middle East. Today, both their livelihoods and employment are under threat. In addition, a large number of tourists travelled to Sri Lanka through Middle Eastern airspace, and the closure of those air routes and airports has reduced tourist arrivals. Another issue concerns fuel transportation. This problem has affected not only Sri Lanka but many countries around the world. If the war continues for a long period, it will have further impacts on us, and therefore we must be prepared. We also need to manage the economy carefully and reduce certain expenditures.

Although we have the ability to borrow, our intention is not to weaken the country’s economy by relying on loans.

You are aware that we have begun implementing education reforms. Within that policy framework, we are also taking steps to reform preschool education. So far, the establishment of preschools and early childhood development has not been carried out in a systematic manner. Therefore, we must regulate and standardize all preschools, which is not an easy task.

First, all preschools must be formally registered. We have already prepared a curriculum for teacher training. In addition, we plan to introduce a new curriculum for preschools in 2027, provide teacher training accordingly, and regulate preschools through a regulatory authority. A recognized curriculum has also been prepared for the preschool diploma. In the future, priority for preschool teachers will be given based on these qualifications. We will also take gradual steps to enhance the professionalism of preschool teachers and establish a proper salary structure”.

The Prime Minister further stated that preschools fall under the authority of Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, while the line ministry can only provide policy recommendations. She also emphasized that issues related to preschools should be addressed in a systematic manner through structural committees and District Development Committees.

Member of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi and other public representatives, along with preschool teachers from the Hambantota District attended the awareness program.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

News

Be mindful of the accuracy of information before sharing it on social media – PM

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that the weakening of public trust in information disseminated through the media is extremely dangerous for a society, and emphasized that people must be mindful of the truthfulness of information before sharing it on social media.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the “Sandeshaya” Media Awards Ceremony held on 14 March at the Kularathne Hall of Ananda College, Colombo. The event was organized with the aim of providing Sri Lankan school students with an opportunity to actively contribute to the national media discourse while promoting ethics, responsibility, and critical thinking.

During the “Sandeshaya” Awards Ceremony , lifetime awards granted only once in a lifetime were presented to distinguished veterans in the media field, while media awards were also presented to talented students in the school category. The ceremony was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister.

Expressing her views further, the Prime Minister stated:

“We live in an era where information technology and the media are changing rapidly. Along with these changes, many opportunities have emerged, but we are also confronted with numerous challenges.

We must prepare our younger generation to live in a society and a world transformed by information technology and the media.

When we observe the changes taking place in the media today, we can say that the media and information have become democratized. In the past, access to knowledge and information was largely limited to privileged or powerful groups. The authority to communicate information and decide what should be disseminated was held by a small group. However, with the advancement of technology, this has changed dramatically. As a result of this revolutionary transformation, information, data, and knowledge have now become accessible to everyone. In that sense, it is a positive development.

At the same time, we are no longer merely media viewers or consumers. As citizens, we can also become media creators. Citizens now have significant space to engage with the media and share information. While this is positive in one sense, it also carries certain dangers. There are serious questions, issues, and challenges regarding responsibility and credibility in the dissemination of information. Today, information flows so rapidly that it is sometimes difficult to determine what is true. Making decisions has become increasingly challenging. Not only in our country but globally, there have been many instances where societies have been set ablaze due to misinformation or deliberately distorted information. We have witnessed numerous occasions where people’s lives have been destroyed as a result.

Sometimes, without even realizing it, we get trapped on the internet. We share various things through our social media platforms, both necessary and unnecessary. However, what we often forget is that a large amount of personal information accumulates on the internet through these actions. Once incorrect information becomes widespread in this way, it becomes extremely difficult to erase.

The spread of false information weakens public trust in the information provided by the media, and this is extremely dangerous for a society. For the sustainability of a society, it is essential to maintain trust among citizens and trust in the institutions that influence people’s lives. Only through the trust we can safeguard the sustainability, continuity, and security of a society.

However, what has happened today due to the spread of misinformation? We no longer have confidence in our leaders. We do not even trust elders. There is doubt about whether the news we receive can be trusted. When credibility weakens within a society, it can push that society into crisis.

Therefore, it is extremely important to cultivate a culture that strengthens trust in leadership, promotes confidence in elders, and enhances awareness about reliable sources of information. In this context, those entering the field of media carry a significant responsibility.

Just like the senior professionals we honored today, you too may one day enter this field. However, there is a vast difference between the era in which they entered the profession and the era you will enter. You will carry a unique responsibility to strengthen the credibility of the media and to stand firmly behind the information you present.

You must be able to stand by the information you provide. You must reflect on whether the information you share is true and who might be affected by it. Ensuring the credibility of the information you disseminate is also your responsibility.

Similarly, as users of any form of media, we all bear a responsibility to verify the reliability of the information we receive and to be aware of how to distinguish between truth and falsehood. That is why digital literacy and media literacy are essential. It is also for this reason that we believe such subjects and concepts must be incorporated into education reforms so that our student generation can learn them.’

The Prime Minister further stated that citizens have a responsibility to be mindful of the truthfulness of information before sharing content found on the internet and social media with others.

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media Anil Jasinghe, Principal of Ananda College D.M.L.P. Dissanayake, journalists, principals, teachers, and students.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts

Published

12 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 15 March 2026, valid for 16 March 2026.

The public is warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at
some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya 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