News
MONLAR: Govt. does not care to ensure food security
‘Forest lands given to big businesses’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government had not introduced mechanisms to ensure a stable and adequate food supply although almost a year has passed since Sri Lanka became affected by Covid-19, Moderator of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR), Chinthaka Rajapakshe told The Island yesterday, commenting on soaring food prices.
Rajapakshe said that if the government had worked according to a strategy, it could have increased the production of food and come up with better distribution networks last year.
“The government has shown its incompetence by not straightening up the distribution network and introducing price control mechanisms. One year is more than enough to produce 90% of the food the country needs. We also have the resources, experience and knowledge to achieve this goal. The only thing lacking is proper government planning.”
The government continued to hand over some forest land and the lands used by small farmers to large agro businesses, Rajapakshe said, adding that the government had earmarked 800,000 acres of land to be given to corporations; those lands mainly consisted of forests, chenas and pastures. “The President is facilitating this process through his Gama Samaga Pilisandara programme, which is an attempt to mislead the people by giving them false promises and some relief. Gotabaya tells people it is all right to cultivate forest land under the Forest Conservation Department and instructs officials not to punish people who send their cattle into forests. People walk away feeling good but a few months later big corporations would take over those lands.”
The MONLAR Moderator said that they had conducted a survey on the lands given to corporations by the incumbent government last year. Most of the lands are those used by cattle herders and chena cultivators.
“These big companies cultivate crops like corn and their produce does not help ensure the country’s food security. Moreover, the government cannot exert any influence over these big businesses. For example, it issued several gazettes last year stipulating prices on some varieties of rice but big millers did not heed them. We simply don’t have the power to influence the market. The government has tried to replace public servants with retired Army officers in a bid to convince the people that it has got tough with big businessmen.
The MONLAR Moderator added that early last year the government had encouraged home gardening during lockdowns. However since the government had no plan or policy to make it sustainable, the home gardening project fell through.
Latest News
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
In keeping with the proposal by the President in his 2025 budget, for the provision of a package essential goods at a concessionary price during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival season, it has been planned to provide a food package containing essential food items valued at Rs. 5000/- for only Rs. 2,500/-.
It is expected to select appropriate beneficiaries from among the 812,753 candidates who have submitted new applications for Aswesuma benefits.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development jointly with the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to take necessary steps to provide the food package to the beneficiaries through the Lanka Sathosa outlet network and COOPFED outlets from 01.04.2025 to 13.04.2025
The Cabinet of Ministers have decided as follows considering the resolutions submitted by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development along with the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments on payment of salaries according to the revised salary scales with effect from 01.04.2025 based on the resolution furnished by the President for revising the salaries of government service by the budget 2025;
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to issue circular instructions to the the secretaries of all the Ministries, Local Government Secretaries and Heads of Departments in regard to salary revisions of the government service.
• To empower the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to issue circular instructions for state corporations, statutory boards and fully government owned companies and other institutions.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted to amend the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 for remedying the shortcomings related to the transparency according to the international standards for prevention of money laundering, financing terrorism and other illegal activities.
Accordingly, the draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman has been revised as per instructions provided by the Attorney General subject to the special decision of the Supreme Court No. SC/SD/92/2024 and clearance of the Attorney General has been granted for the final draft bill prepared by the Legal Draftsman.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Safety and Cooperative Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Concessionary priced food packages for new ‘Aswesuma’ applicants from 01st to 13th April
Salary revision of the Government Service – 2025
Amendment of the Companies Act No. 07 of 2007 to be Gazetted
-
Business6 days agoCargoserv Shipping partners Prima Ceylon & onboards Nestlé Lanka for landmark rail logistics initiative
-
News4 days agoSeniors welcome three percent increase in deposit rates
-
Features4 days agoThe US, Israel, Palestine, and Mahmoud Khalil
-
Business6 days agoSri Lankans Vote Dialog as the Telecommunication Brand and Service Brand of the Year
-
News4 days agoScholarships for children of estate workers now open
-
News5 days agoDefence Ministry of Japan Delegation visits Pathfinder Foundation
-
Features6 days agoThe Vaping Veil: Unmasking the dangers of E-Cigarettes
-
News6 days ago‘Deshabandu is on SLC payroll’; Hesha tables documents