News

‘Maha season ruined, Yala will be a disaster’

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

No agro-chemical imports yet, only fraction of liquid fertilizer received

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The government lifted the ban on agro-chemical imports, well over a month ago, but the country is yet to receive much-needed fertiliser supplies.

The President’s Office on Nov. 22 announced the ending of the ban on agro-chemicals imports introduced on April 22, 2021.

However, Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kaviratne claims that though Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage assured the Parliament agro chemicals would be imported, so far the private sector hasn’t been given the approval.

Addressing a gathering at Rattota over the weekend, the former UNPer said that the farming community had been deprived of fertiliser as well as agro-chemicals.

Lawmaker Kaviratne alleged that Minister Aluthgamage sabotaged the move to resume agro-chemical imports by removing the Registrar of Pesticide Dr. J. A. Sumith. MP Kaviratne emphasized that the government owed an explanation over the top official’s removal. When contacted yesterday afternoon, Sumith declined to comment.

Minister Aluthgmage couldn’t be contacted because he was at a meeting. Earlier, Aluthgamae declared that the Registrar of Pesticide was removed in the wake of him lifting the ban on five pesticides, including glyphosate imposed seven years ago.

Lawmaker Kaviratne said that unless urgent measures were taken to import fertilizer and agro-chemicals, farmers wouldn’t be able to engage in cultivation in the early part of this year. The agriculture ministry seemed to be even unaware of the two cultivation seasons namely, Maha (September-March) and Yala (May-August), lawmaker Kaviratne said.

Responding to The Island queries, the lawmaker pointed out that the controversy over the rejected consignment of Chinese carbonic fertilizer and the subsequent decision to pay the supplier USD 6.7 mn distracted public attention from the real issue. MP Kaviratne emphasized that the issue at hand was the failure of the government to deliver the promised carbonic fertiliser needed for Maha thereby deprived them of both fertiliser of any kind and agro-chemicals as well. On the other hand, of 1.2 million litres of liquid nano fertilizer ordered from India, a relatively small quantity had been received so far, the MP said, alleging that the Agriculture Ministry ruined the agro sector. About one mn litres of liquid fertiliser were yet to be delivered, well informed sources revealed.

The MP said that the Agriculture Ministry within one year had achieved the unthinkable. Asked to explain, she said that even during the war the farming community served the country at the risk of their lives. Regardless of sporadic terrorist attacks on paddy growing districts, the LTTE couldn’t dishearten them, the Matale District MP said. But the current dispensation had compelled the farmers to give up cultivation by depriving them of the basic necessities, the outspoken MP said.

The SJB spokesperson said that the Agriculture Department recently acknowledged that the yield in the major paddy growing districts of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa would be approximately 50 percent of the normal output whereas in the East only 1/3 of paddy land had been cultivated. The total output could be as low as half of previous years, MP Kaviratne said, urging the government to take stock of the situation, at least now.

With the country experiencing an unprecedented debt servicing problem, a sharp drop in paddy, vegetable and maize production could further aggravate the US Dollar crisis, the MP warned, warning the government to stop acting the goat.

MP Kaviratne said that the foolish SLPP administration had caused immeasurable damage to the national economy. The Opposition would raise the issue in Parliament once the new session commenced on January 18, she said.

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PM on inspection tour of newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand

Published

16 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

The Colombo Central Bus Stand, which has a history of over six decades and had remained without a proper maintenance for many years, has now been renovated under the current government’s development programme and vested to the public. Following that, the Prime Minister undertook an inspection tour of the newly renovated Colombo Central Bus Stand.

Originally constructed in 1964, the bus stand was refurbished with modern facilities to meet current needs and was officially reopened to the public on April 8. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide passengers with a higher-quality and more comfortable transportation service.

During the renovation process, special attention has been given to the comfort and safety of women, which was commended by the Prime Minister. In particular, a modern rest area designed to ensure privacy for nursing mothers travelling from distant areas received special praise.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the newly introduced passenger seat reservation system and information services established to assist commuters. In addition, the modern surveillance unit and other security measures installed within the premises to ensure passenger safety were also inspected.

During the visit, the Prime Minister engaged in conversations with passengers at the bus stand and inquired about their views on the newly renovated facilities and the quality of transport services.

It was emphasized that the government’s objective is to transform public transportation into a safe, technologically advanced service that can be used with convenience by all citizens.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

Latest News

Sun directly overhead Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon today (10)

Published

16 hours ago

2026/04/10

Priyan

On the apparent northward relative motion of the sun, it is going to be directly over the latitudes of Sri Lanka from the 05th to 15th of April in this year.

The nearest areas of Sri Lanka over which the sun is overhead today (10th) are Nagawilluwa, Galgamuwa, Sigiriya, Palugasdamana and Mankerni about 12:11 noon.

News

Opposition tells Minister Kumara Jayakody to resign

Published

17 hours ago

2026/04/10

Thilina Walpola

Prof. Peiris

No-faith motion to be taken up today

Former Foreign Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday (9) said that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake should remove Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody unless the minister stepped down on his own.Prof. Peiris, addressing a press conference called by the Opposition, said that Jayakody couldn’t under any circumstance continue to serve as a minister after the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) moved the Colombo High Court against the government member over a previous financial scandal.

Pointing out that Minister Jayakody had been indicted of a corrupt deal struck during the yahapalana regime, Prof. Peiris said it was wrong for the NPP to retain him as a minister, claiming that the offence was not committed during his tenure as a Cabinet minister in the current government.

Prof. Peiris and several other Opposition members dealt with the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against Jayakody that would be taken up today (10) with the academic calling the vote an acid test for the NPP. Having campaigned on an anti-corruption platform at presidential and parliamentary polls, the NPP couldn’t protect Jayakody though he was widely believed to be close to President Dissanayake.

As the Manager of the Procurement and Import Division of the Ceylon Fertilizer Company, Jayakody is alleged to have committed the offence of corruption, according to CIABOC.

Jayakody has been accused of causing a loss of Rs. 8,859,708 to the State by influencing and exploiting the procurement process.

Following the serving of indictments on 27 March, the judge ordered Jayakody’s release on two personal bail bonds of Rs. 1 million each. The court directed that the defendant’s fingerprints be obtained and a formal report be submitted. The case has been scheduled for a pre-trial conference on 6 May.

Prof. Peiris stressed that the CIABOC action against Jayakody is central to the NCM primarily moved over the irregularities ridden coal procurement process launched in 2025 that caused severe disruption to the power generation. Responding to The Island query after the media briefing, Prof Peiris expressed surprise that the JVP/NPP accommodated a person under investigation by the CIABOC. Having taken an utterly irresponsible decision, the JVP/NPP were now playing down the developing issue, prof. Peiris said.

The entire government parliamentary group faced the prospect of having its image tarnished by defending Jayakody, the former lawmaker said.

Prof. Peiris said that they intended to build a campaign around the issues involving the energy minister to expose the government. With yet another electricity tariff hike in the offing due to the growing demand for thermal generation as a result of coal-fired Lakvijaya power plant’s failure to meet the requirement[RA1] , the energy minister and ministry’s performances have to be examined, Prof. Peiris said.The timely release of the Auditor General’s report on controversial coal procurement should compel the government to decide on the energy minister’s fate or be prepared to face the fallout.

By Shamindra Ferdinando