(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that hunger has no party or color and that everyone should come together to make the food security program a success in order to face the future food shortage as a strong country.
The President further emphasized that everyone should forget their differences and dedicate themselves to rebuilding the country’s economy.
Joining the Badulla District program of the multi-sector joint mechanism for empowering rural economic revival centers to ensure food security and nutrition, yesterday (15), President Wickremesinghe thanked everyone for their comments on the functioning of the Food Security Program in the Badulla District.
The President recalled that the food security program was started at a time when there was a shortage of fertilizer and fuel in the country and at a time when no country wanted to give Sri Lanka loans.
“In the year 2023, there is a possibility of a food shortage. We started the food security program to deal with that. I suggest that a review of the implementation of this program be done again in each divisional secretariat. Here you can get new data. Accordingly, we are proceeding with the food security program in a formal manner. This program will not end after 2023. We will continue to do so. Local councils have representatives from each political party. But we all have to implement this program together,” he explained.
“Somehow, we have been able to provide the fertilizer needed by the farmers. With the success of the Maha season, we will have a surplus of rice in the future. We have identified problems such as insufficient storage facilities. We are also working to solve those problems. At the same time, we have taking measures to control the price of paddy.”
The President pointed out that the tourism industry can be developed in the Badulla District. “Accordingly, we are preparing the necessary program to develop Tourism in the Badulla District.”
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera said the government is constantly working to provide opportunities to grow more productive crops and are working to use modern agriculture methods.
“We had run out of fertilizer. Fertilizer is now available as required. Also, the fuel subsidy has been received for agricultural activities. Thus, the government spends Rs.50,000 per hectare. We are planning to provide Muriate of Potash (MOP) fertilizer for free, next season. We have also credited the money to the farmers’ account to get fertilizer.”
Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Harin Fernando, State Ministers Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, Thenuka Vidanagamage, Aravinda Kumar, Member of Parliament Vadivel Suresh, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Sagala Ratnayaka, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Governor of the Uva Province A.J.M. Muzammil, President’s Senior Adviser on Food Security Dr. Suren Batagoda, Badulla District Secretary Damayanthi Paranagama and a group of government officials from the district also attended the event.
