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National Agriculture Policy to be formulated soon

Published

5 years ago

2020/12/22

Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage says that a National Agriculture policy would be formulated within the next three months.

The Agriculture Ministry has, in a media statement, said that an expert committee appointed to formulate a National Agriculture Policy met for the first time on Saturday (18) at the Gannoruwa Horticultural Crops Research Institute.

The 13-member committee consists of experts in various fields, including experts in the field of agriculture. The committee is chaired by Dr. Ajantha de Silva, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Its other members are: Director General of Agriculture Dr. W.M.W. Weerakoon, Agrarian Development Commissioner General W.M.M.B. Weerasekara, Sabaragamuwa University Professor P.I. Yapa, Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe, University of Peradeniya, Prof. Palitha Weerakkody, Vice Chancellor of Wayamba University, Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe, University of Peradeniya, Professor M.B. Rathnathilaka, Dr. B.V.R. Punyawardena, Dr. D.S. Kuruppuarachchi, Dr. Yasintha Mapatuna and Dr. Rizvi Sahid.

This committee includes the Chairman of the National Federation of Farmers’ Organizations SMG Samarakoon to represent the farming community.

Minister Aluthgamage requested the committee to formulate the National Agriculture Policy in the interest of the nation within three months disregarding political differences or any other influence.

Pointing out that during his tenure as the Minister of Sports in 2010, he had introduced a national policy for sports and that it had brought about a tremendous positive change in the field of sports in the country.

The Minister pointed out that the National Agriculture Policy was essential for the development of a productive economy as well as a self-sufficient economy from non-toxic food mentioned in the Vision of Prosperity instead of an import economy.

Pointing out that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa also has a keen interest in implementing a national agricultural policy that doesn’t change with governments, Minister Aluthgamage requested the expert committee to provide the necessary support to the government.

The Vice Chancellor of the Wayamba University Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe stated that the National Agriculture Policy was formulated in 2003, 2007 and 2010 also but it did not become a reality.

Instead of downloading an agricultural policy in Canada, Israel or any other country through the internet and presenting it as ours, a national agricultural policy that suits the country, including localism, environment, health, our farming people, new technology, and making the farmer an entrepreneur, was essential, Prof. Jayasinghe said.

He pointed out that the expert committee should meet once a month or at an appropriate time interval to take decisions on agriculture and not just limit to formulating a national agricultural policy

Prof. P.I. Yapa noted that a large portion of money from the farmer’s production is spent to buy fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides as well as seeds and suggested that the new policy should include the local production of those needs.

He said that such measures should be taken in the national interest of the country in order to save a large amount of money leaving the country and to enrich the hands of the farmer.

SMG Samarakoon, Chairman of the National Agrarian Federation, representing the committee on behalf of the farmers said that throughout history there had been a problem in directing the views, suggestions and problems of the grassroots farmer to the administration.

Minister Aluthgamage instructed the Chairman of the National Agrarian Federation to file the views of the farmer and present to the committee and said that all relevant assistance would be provided.

The expert committee pointed out to the Minister that building an agro-based economy was a timely need. The Committee of Experts was of the view that a National Policy on Agriculture should be formulated with an understanding of the chain from producer to consumer.

The Minister said that a number of programmes including the establishment of an Organic Fertilizer Authority, arming the country with seed production, making the country self-sufficient in 16 crops, enriching the farmer with agro-technology and agro-export villages were already in operation.

He said that before the Committee of Experts appointed to formulate a National Policy for Agriculture that his sole objective was to expedite the adoption of the National Agriculture Policy in the national interest for a common purpose and that he was ready to provide the necessary government intervention and assistance.

The Expert Committee agreed to gather and discuss information covering all sectors and to formulate a successful National Agriculture Policy for the future of the country and stated that it was ready to finalize it expeditiously.

Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Retired Major General Sumedha Perera was also present at the special discussion.

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Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota for next 24 hours

Published

2 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

Warning for strong winds and rough seas.
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 10.00 a.m. on 19 July 2025 for the period until 10.00 a.m. on 20 July 2025

The sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota will be rough or very rough with strong gusty winds up to (60-70) kmph.

The wave height (about 2.5 – 3.0 m) may increase in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota. Therefore, there is a possibility that nearshore sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle and Hambantota, may experience surges due to sea waves.

Naval and fishing communities are advised not to venture into the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Colombo, Galle Hambantota for next 24 hours.

The naval and fishing communities engaged in fishing and naval activities in the sea areas extending from Puttalam to Trincomalee via Mannar and Kankasanthurai are requested to be vigilant in this regard and to be attentive to future forecasts issued by the Department of Meteorology in this regard.

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Economics or entrepreneurship must go beyond monetary values and be tied to humanity — Prime Minister

Published

9 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

The Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that despite the fact that societal tendencies give priority to the monetary value, economics and entrepreneurship should be disciplines rooted in humanity, and the concept of a “care economy” serves as a good example of this approach.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while participating in a program held on Friday (18) at the Ministry of Education to inform officials about the development of modules for financial literacy and entrepreneurship, which are included as subjects under the new educational reforms.Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka, Senior Professor Harendra Dissabandara, shared his insights on the current state of financial literacy in Sri Lanka and the way forward and the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeysekara, expressed his views on the financial literacy activities in the country.

Further addressing the event, Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated:

“We clearly come to see that your support and blessings have forwarded the new education reforms we are trying to implement. As the Ministry of Education, it brings forward a great strength and these reforms are more than just curriculum changes.

What we need is a developed society, not just economically, but spiritually and ethically as well. Wealth is not just about money.

In that sense, the transformation we are trying to bring about through education is deeply significant.

The theft, corruption, and fraud we see in today’s society are not committed by people lacking subject knowledge but by those who know the subject very well. That is why it has been so hard to address. Therefore, we must learn financial literacy and entrepreneurship together with human values, to develop them as ethical disciplines. What we need are entrepreneurs who love the environment, society, and have compassion for one another”.

The Prime Minister further emphasized the importance of considering what state society would fall into if women were only engaged in financially valuable work.

Addressing this event the Deputy Minister of Labour and Economic Development, Professor Anil Jayantha Fernando, added:

“Incorporating financial literacy into school education is extremely important. Many people fall victim to pyramid-like financial scams due to a lack of proper understanding. Therefore, the public must have a strong grasp of financial literacy. It is often those with high financial literacy who carry out financial fraud. Along with subject knowledge, we need to empower society with values to manage this situation”

The event was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwawa; officials from the Ministry of Finance; the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka; the Colombo Stock Exchange; and other institutional representatives.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Students from Vidyaloka College Kandy, Vidyaloka College Weranketagoda and Junior School Digampathaha visit the President’s House

Published

10 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

Students from Vidyaloka College in Kandy, Vidyaloka College in Weranketagoda and Junior School Digampathaha had the opportunity to participate in the Vision programme organized by the Presidential Secretariat on Friday (18).

This programme, jointly conducted by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education and the Parliamentary Department of Communication, aims to provide students with practical exposure relevant to their education.

As part of the programme, students were given the opportunity to visit the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House, the Port City Colombo and the Parliament.

In line with the initiative, students were also educated on the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme and its conceptual importance.

To emphasize the value of environmental conservation, symbolic plant saplings were presented to the participating schools.

Addressing the students, Senior Additional Secretary to the President Kapila Janaka Bandara emphasized that the country needs a generation capable of making significant contributions across all sectors to achieve national development. He noted that with such contributions, Sri Lanka can rise to global prominence.

Bandara further stated that personal transformation must begin from within by cultivating positive attitudes and that this internal change is the foundation for building Sri Lanka into one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

Also present at the event were Director General of Public Relations at the Presidential Secretariat Dharmasiri Gamage, Director of Tri-Forces Coordination Air Commodore Asiri Gallage, Assistant Director Major Nadeeka Dangolla, school principals, teachers and a group of parents.