News
Available agricultural expertise not passed down to farmers
“Let’s read DS again”
Only 1.7 percent of paddy farmers here have received any kind of professional training in agriculture despite the Agriculture Ministry having the highest number of PhDs in agriculture related subjects and an extensive network of agrarian officials countrywide, it was revealed at a conference on Thursday.
Guest Speaker at the conference, consultant paediatrician and researcher on political history, Dr Ajith Amarasinghe, said that majority of our farmers have had less than a month’s training.
Quoting numbers from an Agricultural Household Survey conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, Amarasinghe focused on this lacuna pointing out that despite available expertise, scientific knowledge has not been transferred to farmers on the ground.
“The Agriculture Ministry has the highest number of field officers. They do possess classical knowledge on agriculture but have had no training on how to transfer practical knowledge to the farmers in the field,” he told the meeting organized by the School of Democracy, an independent academy to promote political literacy and young political leadership.
The event titled “Let’s read DS again” conducted via zoom was attended by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Amarasinghe said the country’s education system was not geared to help its main industries and agriculture. “Our first Prime Minister, DS Senanayake commenced promoting growing our own food in a country that had focused on cash crops – tea, rubber and coconut. He worked on tank restoration and land settlement because he knew that the country’s population would double from four million to eight million in 30 years from the 1920s and 1930s.
“He foresaw a food shortage with population growth. He found people had lost their lands to cash crop cultivation in the Wayamba, Central and Western provinces and settled them in the North and East dry zone less populated than the rest of the country. He spearheaded an agricultural revolution and wanted very much to promote agricultural education.”
“DS in the Legislative Assembly in 1925 pointed out that we had a defective education system with no promotion of agricultural, industrial and technical education. He campaigned for the setting up of the Peradeniya University with an Agriculture Faculty pointing out that objectives of teaching that subject could not be achieved by having Colombo-based universities.
“Successive leaders after him could not continue his vision and mission maybe for political reasons. The end result is that parents try to make their children doctors, lawyers and engineers. Only a minuscule number of students could reach these professions while over 95 percent end their education only with literacy skills,” Dr Amarasinghe said.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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