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Govt. has reduced allocations for agricultural sector – Ranjith
By Saman Indrajith
The government had reduced budgetary allocations for the ministries of agriculture and irrigation by the 2023 budget, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjith Maddumabandara said in Parliament on Wednesday.Maddumabandara added that the budgetary allocations for constructing roads and defence had increased.
“We should prioritise the agriculture sector. We are facing food shortages and there are serious concerns about the nutrition of our children. If you look at Polonnaruwa, a main agricultural area, malnutrition is on the rise. The cost of production has gone through the roof and the government has imported 700,000 metric tons of rice,” he said.
The SJB MP said that the decision to go organic overnight had led to the collapse of the agriculture sector.
“Farmers need chemical fertiliser, but the government has not been able to provide it. We urge the government to provide fertiliser and other inputs needed by farmers and get agriculture back on track in 2023,” the SJB Mp said.
Maddumabandara said small and medium scale rice mills had been closed down and a few large-scale mills were dominating the paddy and rice markets much to the detriment of the interests of both the farming community and consumers.
“The government does not buy paddy from farmers, but it has enough money to dish out massive loans for large-scale mills. Look at who is importing rice, they get cheap rice from abroad and mix it with Sri Lankan rice and sell it at Rs 220 a kilo. We are also importing corn. The price of chicken, eggs and other meats are prohibitively high. No wonder children are suffering from malnutrition. This is all because of the collapse of our agriculture sector. Even animals are without food,” he said.
The SJB MP said that not many Sri Lankans could afford basic meals, and according to UNICEF 33 percent of Sri Lankans were food insecure. “This includes millions of children.
“When children are malnourished, their development slows, and they will face major health issues. The government will have to spend more money on health in the future to treat them. Farmers are now only making enough for their own consumption. Now, the government wants them to plant ganja. An MP has imported latex, and this will bankrupt rubber farmers. The current minister of agriculture has been holding this post in successive governments. What has he done?” he asked.In response, the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that they had done a number of things to address the issues faced by the farmers.
“Urea has been sent to all main agricultural hubs. We are bringing in fertiliser needed for new growing paddy. Four ships carrying fertilisers will arrive soon. If there is some issue with urea distribution, please tell me. We are giving 50 kilos of fertiliser per hectare. We have also got diesel from China, and we will give it to farmers. By next year, we will be back on track,” he said.
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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.
The 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 Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala 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.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]
Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.
Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.
Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.
In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.
Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.
The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.
The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.
He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.
According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.
Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.
However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.
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