News
Voracious Sena caterpillar may soon invade paddy cultivations, warns MONLAR
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sena caterpillars would destroy paddy cultivation unless the agricultural authorities took steps to control the pest, the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) Moderator, Chinthaka Rajapakshe told The Island yesterday.
Rajapakshe said the governments, since 2018, had done nothing to counter the threat posed by the Sena caterpillars, which were now destroying crops in the Uva, Eastern and North Western provinces; that the Department of agriculture was again proposing to destroy the pest with highly toxic pesticides.
“The Sena caterpillar first made its appearance in the world in 2016 in Africa and then spread rapidly around the world. It’s mainly associated with attacking maize crops but it is not a picky eater. Scientists say they like to feed on the leaves and stems of more than 350 plant species, including rice, sorghum, sugarcane and rwheat. Imagine the devastation it would cause if they started attacking paddy.”
Rajapakshe said that successive governments had been promoting mono-cropping in Sri Lanka and that it had made it easy for pests like Sena caterpillars to spread. Maize was mainly planted as a key ingredient of poultry feed. As the Sri Lankan poultry industry had grown over the years, its development has resulted in an increase in the extent of land under maize cultivation. A decrease in maize production can also affect the poultry industry.
“The Department of Agriculture is promoting the use of highly toxic pesticides to eradicate the caterpillar. We have been doing this since 2018 but the caterpillar is back. We only spend colossal amounts of money, pollute the environment and increase farmers’ indebtedness. Instead, we should use more sustainable solutions like the push-pull’ approaches for controlling insect pests and weeds. Push-pull’ is about mixing, into a field of crops, plants that repel insect pests (‘push’) and planting, around a crop, diversionary trap plants that attract the pests (‘pull’).”
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
Implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy
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