News

Minister Amaraweera urges people to work through pandemic to minimise impact on economy

Published

5 years ago

2020/10/27

By Ifham Nizam

Sri Lankans should come forward to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said yesterday speaking at the launch of the Thousand Herbal Forest programme at the Bodhimalu Temple, Medamulana.

Amaraweera also said that COVID-19 clusters would grow further if people did not follow the health guidelines.

“My fear is COVID-19 clusters will form around some liquor bars.”

The world economy was in deep crisis due to COVID-19 and Sri Lanka had already felt its impact, the minister said, adding that mainstays of foreign revenue like fish exports, garment industry and other export industries had been severely affected.

“To minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the economy of our country, we have to continue working in the midst of the epidemic. None can say how long this epidemic will last. We will have to live with COVID-19 whether we like it or not. We cannot stop development work because of COVID-19. But if we follow the instructions given by the health sector perfectly, we can revive our economy and save lives.”

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Cabinet nod to accept Japanese government grant of 08 used low floorboard buses

Published

2 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development to accept 08 used low floorboard buses offered as a grant by the Government of Japan.

News

Payment of the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Yala season 2026.

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

While approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 18.08.2025 to pay the financial subsidy for fertilizer to farmers cultivating paddy lands for the Maha season 2025/26, the programme is planned to be continued for the Yala season 2026 as well.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to pay a financial subsidy of Rupees 25,000/- per hectare and for a maximum of 02 hectares per farmer for paddy cultivation and to pay Rupees 15,000/- per hectare for field crops cultivated in paddy lands[maximum of 02 hectares per farmer]

News

Ministerial Committee appointed to submit recommendations on proposed program to mitigate loss of crops to wild animals

Published

3 hours ago

2026/03/4

Priyan

The rural agricultural livelihood and food security have been severely impacted due to the damage caused by wild animals such as elephants, wild boars, monkeys, toque macaque, squirrels, and peacocks roaming around human habitats and cultivated lands.

Animal-human conflicts and property destruction have mostly been reported around these areas, and serious social and economic issues have also arisen.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation has prepared a comprehensive program based on the opinions of all stakeholders, including the public, university community, farmers’ organizations, environmentalists, non-governmental organizations which work for environmental issues, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Development, and other relevant organizations.

Taking into consideration the report submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided to appoint a ministerial committee with the participation of other relevant ministers, chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation, to submit appropriate recommendations on how the aforementioned program should be implemented by further reviewing the proposals included in the said program and incorporating new proposals.