MP Pathirana submits motions seeking to promote traditional rice varieties and destroy invasive plants

by Saman Indrajith

SJB Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana has handed over two motions to Parliament seeking the approval of the House to promote traditional, indigenous varieties of rice and another to bring in new laws to destroy invasive plants.

The two motions would be presented to the House in the form of a Private Member motions, according to the latest addendum of Parliament.

 The motion titled, ‘Educating the public on the nutritious value of traditional, local rice varieties’, states that “this Parliament resolves that the government should prepare and implement a national level programme to educate the public on the nutritious value of the traditional, local rice varieties available in the Sri Lankan market at present, of the new rice varieties consumed at present, and of the varieties of rice that should be consumed by people with various diseases, and also to provide facilities for farmers to cultivate those varieties of paddy.”

The second motion titled, “Minimizing the damage caused to bio-diversity by invasive plants and animals,” states that “this Parliament resolves that the Government should make interventions to identify and name the invasive plants and animals that can cause damage to bio-diversity in Sri Lanka and to prohibit breeding and importing of such plants and animals in order to protect the environment in Sri Lanka and that appropriate action should be taken promptly to formulate necessary laws in that regard.”