(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –The expert committee appointed to prepare the National Agricultural Policy informed the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, that the final draft of the National Agricultural Policy, which has been a deficiency in the agricultural sector in this country for many years, has been completed.
A discussion with the expert committee and the Minister and officials of the Ministry was held Yesterday (27) at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, had instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to appoint a committee consisting of scholars to represent all sectors to prepare the national policy. Accordingly, former Agriculture Director Generals, Ministry Secretaries as well as university professors and agricultural representatives were included in the committee.
Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe, Professor Udith Jayasinghe, Professor Palitha Weerakkody, Professor MB. Ratnathilaka, Dr. BVR Punyawardena, Dr. D. S Kuruppuarachchi, former Director Generals of Agriculture, Dr. Ajanta de Silva and Dr. W. M. M Weerakoon also belonged to this committee.
In particular, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had instructed this committee to get opinions and suggestions from all sectors in order to formulate a permanent agricultural policy that does not change from government to government and from minister to minister.
Accordingly, the expert committee also stated that they received ideas and suggestions for the development of the agriculture sector so that every sector is represented.
However, the minister said that the final draft will be submitted to the parliament for approval, and after that everyone should work for the implementation of the new Agriculture Act.
“As it is important to formulate an agriculture policy, it is everyone’s responsibility to implement the points mentioned in that policy. The views and suggestions of the members of parliament have been presented in the new agricultural national policy. That’s a good point. The National Agriculture Policy has received everyone’s attention,” Minister Amaraweera said.
“Agriculture in this country suffered a tragic fate today because we did not have a national policy. A country that was self-sufficient in rice fell back due to lack of policy. This year, 400 million dollars have been spent on the import of rice in a period of 10 months. Officials are also responsible for this situation. Our country’s agriculture has not progressed as the world’s agriculture has progressed. Therefore, is necessary to give everyone’s support for the implementation of the national agricultural policy,” he added. Secretary of the Ministry Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe also participated in this event.
