News

MONLAR sees ulterior motive in government’s organic policy

Published

4 years ago

2021/11/4

By Rathindra Kuruwita

It was now clear that the government banned agrochemicals to break the existing cartel that controlled fertiliser imports and help its business associates, Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) claimed yesterday.

Chamikara said that since banning the import of agrochemicals, the government had not held any discussions with stakeholders involved in organic agriculture in the country.

“It is now obvious that the government has no intention of going green. All it wants is to ensure that its associates will control the agrochemical market in the future. However, the government is bungling that up too.

Chamikara said that a country had to be extremely careful when bringing in organic material from other countries. Even air passengers are questioned whether they are bringing in seeds or plants from other countries.

“A lot of invasive plants have found their way into Sri Lanka. These invasive species can’t be controlled easily and one of the reasons our farmers use a lot of agrochemicals is to get rid of such plants. Imagine bringing in container loads of organic material. Imagine what can come in those? This is why most countries do not import compost and when they do, they are very careful,” Chamikara said.

Chamikara said that given that microorganisms in most agricultural lands had died due to the overuse of agrochemicals, it would take some time for the soil to recover. Until then a mixture of compost and agrochemicals need to be used in some lands for a year or two, he said. For that purpose, the stock of agrochemicals in the country was adequate, Chamikara said.

“Once this is done, we can move to more advanced stages of sustainable agriculture like ecological farming, agroforestry and analog forestry, that require little external inputs,” he said.

Due to various factors, Sri Lanka cannot have analog forests, an approach to ecological restoration which uses natural forests as guides to create ecologically stable and socio-economically productive landscapes, Chamikara said. Thus, the government needed to study what areas could be converted into ecological farming, agroforestry and analog forestry, he said.

“In some areas, due to slopes that lead to soil erosion, we will have to continuously use compost, especially in hill country vegetable farms. It is a decade long process to transition from organic farming to analog forests. The government must be practical and transparent, or the entire concept loses credibility,” he said. Chamikara said the government had done nothing to educate the farmers on how to engage in organic farming. For example those who planted tea used compost the way they used agrochemicals, which is not an effective way of using compost, he said.

“Farmers have not been told of the most basic things. Moreover, compost is only one component of organic agriculture. There are a number of specialised equipment and machinery needed to successfully engage in organic agriculture. We also need things like cutters and crushers to make compost on a large scale. There are a number of Sri Lankan companies that produce these machines, but they have not been given the necessary support to expand production,” he said.

Chamikara said that Sri Lanka also needed to gear its waste management system into making compost. Although, a large quantity of biodegradable waste was collected daily, most of it was thrown into dump sites. Compost could be created with the biodegradable waste and systems should be introduced to prevent heavy metal contamination.

“Heavy metals can come from things like batteries, bulbs and e-waste. We need to establish protocols to prevent such items from mixing with biodegradable waste,” he said.

Chamikara also said that dried leaves are not optimal for producing compost. A constant supply of fresh organic matter is needed for compost production. The government needs to put in a system where trees and grass removed from roadsides are collected and processed. Moreover, trees such as Gliricidia must be planted. “This is an exhaustive process,” he said.

Another factor that was vital for the success of organic agriculture was a healthy water table, Chamikara said. If the water table was not high, it was difficult to make organic agriculture work, he said. For this the irrigation tank network in the dry zone needed to be maintained and the continuous destruction of the forests needed to be stopped, he said.

“On the other hand, we keep on transferring land owned by small farmers to large companies. These companies are export oriented. In the first phase of shifting to organic agriculture, there is a drop in the harvest. We must take that into account and increase the area of farmlands but we are doing the opposite. In a way, the land use policy too has a role in organic agriculture. Has the government done anything that we have spoken about?” Chamikara asked.

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In order to create a better standard of living for the people, political authorities and public officials must engage in a coordinated mechanism – President

Published

5 hours ago

2025/07/11

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasised that, while steering the country forward economically and improving the people’s standard of living, political authorities and public officials should be integrated into a unified system.

The President stated that no one can work in isolation and he called upon everyone to support the government’s initiatives aimed at benefiting the public.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake made these remarks on Friday (11) morning while attending the Hambantota District Special Coordination Committee meeting held at the auditorium of the Hambantota District Secretariat.

Issues and challenges in the district’s development activities were extensively discussed, including problems in the agriculture, fisheries, health, education, rural roads, land and irrigation sectors, along with potential solutions and the successful implementation of the digitalisation programme.

The allocations made through the 2025 Budget for ministries, departments and institutions, as well as the progress of ongoing projects and those planned to commence before the end of this year using these funds, were also reviewed.

Although Rs. 574 million has been allocated for the Hambantota District this year under the Southern Province Development Programme, it was revealed that only about Rs. 23 million has been spent so far, amounting to approximately 4% progress.

The President questioned officials about this and stressed the need to properly utilise the relevant allocations to meet public needs before the end of 2025.

Land issues, including the clearance of lands belonging to the Mahaweli Authority, were also discussed. The President emphasised that, instead of granting land to various authorities and for irregular transactions, the country needs a culture of allocating land to suitable individuals for economically productive purposes.

The President also instructed that a proper review be conducted of the school system in the Hambantota District and that a comprehensive plan be presented. He emphasised that this plan must ensure quality education for all children, effective management of human resources, and optimal use of available resources.

The President pointed out that problem cannot be solved through emotions or assumptions and that a structured data system is essential. He stated that data should be analysed and used as the foundation for formulating solutions.

Attention was also drawn to problems within public institutions, including staff shortages. The President stated that the government has prepared plans to revitalise the weakened public service, including recruiting 30,000 new employees after a gap of five years. He also noted that the upcoming budget is expected to allocate funds for providing essential vehicles to facilitate the duties of officers, including Divisional Secretaries.

The President also reviewed matters concerning the Hambantota Elephant Management Reserve. He stressed the importance of implementing the proposed elephant corridor project by acquiring the identified lands, regardless of whether they belong to the public or private sector.

Agricultural issues in the district, along with problems related to the fisheries harbour, were also discussed, including potential short-term and long-term solutions.

Attention was also drawn to a letter submitted by health officials requesting Rs. 70 million to complete the construction of the kidney unit at the Hambantota District General Hospital. The President said he would personally intervene and discuss the matter with the Treasury to secure the required funds.

The President noted that while in the past a country’s development was measured by the construction of large buildings, today it is measured by technology. He stated that digital transformation within the next five years is a key government objective.

The President highlighted the importance of creating a cultural shift among citizens. He announced that the upcoming month of September would be declared as the month for promoting a digital culture in the country, with awareness programmes being planned.

The President further stated that our country should be recognised with a new identity in the digital world and that the digital ID will mark a new milestone in that journey.

Also present at the occasion were Co-Chairpersons of the Hambantota District Coordination Committees, Southern Province Governor Bandula Harischandra and Member of Parliament, Nihal Galappaththi; Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Prabha Senarath; Hambantota District MPs Aravinda Senaratne Witharana, Athula Welandagoda, and Saliya Sandaruwan Madurasinghe; Chief Secretary of the Southern Province Sumith Alahakoon; representatives of local government institutions; Hambantota District Secretary Bimal Indrajith de Silva; as well as government and security sector officials from the district.

News

Anemia among adolescent girls and women is a serious concern— Prime Minister

Published

11 hours ago

2025/07/11

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony of the international conference titled “Nourishing South Asia” on Wednesday [9th of July] at the Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, with the aim of reducing anemia among young women and children in South Asia

Addressing the event, Prime Minister stated:

“First of all, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the organizing committee for inviting me to a conference of such regional significance. The goal of this conference is ’to build a South Asia where no adolescent girl or woman suffers from preventable anemia, and to remain committed to that cause.’ In order to achieve this goal, we must ensure that every girl has access to nutritious food, health education, and quality care. At the same time, we must create an environment that enables women to realize their full potential and empowers them to do so.

This aim cannot be accomplished alone by the government itself. That is why this conference is designed to be a platform for renewed commitment and practical action from all sectors of society that support and strengthen our shared goal.”

Addressing further, Prime Minister stated that the issue of anemia among adolescent girls and women is a serious concern, but not something that cannot be prevented. “Through renewed commitment, regional cooperation, and collective action, we can nourish future generations across South Asia and we can build a healthier, more equitable society by breaking the cycle of malnutrition. This is both the hope and belief of myself and our government. I would also like to reiterate here that as a government, we are fully committed to this cause. Our nutrition program, which targets schoolchildren, aims to ensure they receive adequate nutrition and are protected from malnutrition.

I look forward with great expectation to the fruitful discussions, valuable exchanges of ideas, and practical commitments that will emerge from this conference.

I would like to propose this vision that let us unite as a region and pledge our dedication to reducing and eliminating anemia among women and girls through strong regional collaboration. By nurturing our women and young girls, we can nourish the entire South Asian region.

I hope that while experiencing the warm hospitality and unique beauty of our lovely country, your stay here will be both professionally fulfilling and personally memorable.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Let’s build a nation rooted in historical heritage – President

Published

11 hours ago

2025/07/11

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a society cannot progress without a meaningful connection to its historic heritage and that the nation’s development path must be chosen accordingly.

The President made these remarks while addressing a ceremonial gathering on Thursday (10) afternoon at the historic Ruhunu Kataragama sacred site.

Earlier in the day, President Dissanayake visited the sacred grounds of Kataragama, participated in religious observances and later paid a courtesy call on the Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the historic Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya, inquiring about his well-being and engaging in a brief discussion.

The President also attended the final Randoli Maha Perahera of the annual Esala Festival at the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya,

Addressing the gathering, President Dissanayake further emphasised that a nation can only move forward by maintaining continuity with its historic heritage. He noted that every developed country in the world has achieved progress by preserving its historical legacy and building upon it, stressing that Sri Lanka, too, must choose a development path anchored in its heritage.

The President highlighted that Buddhism played a pivotal role in transforming our society into a cultured civilisation and that cultural festivals like this help revive and strengthen the moral and social values of a society often preoccupied with material pursuits.

He pointed out that the Ruhunu Kataragama Perahera has been held continuously for 2,186 years, spanning nearly a hundred generations and that its survival has been possible due to the deep connection between this cultural ceremony and the lives of the people. The President extended his gratitude to all those, who contributed to the success of this year’s procession.

[PMD]