• Agri Minister Amaraweera bemoans lack of enthusiasm of MPs in responding

In a context where the draft of the National Agriculture Policy has been given to all Parliamentarians to seek their ideas and proposals, but only two MPs have submitted such, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has expressed his regret over the MPs' lack of interest in the said Policy.

The final discussion on the said Policy, which was prepared by the Agriculture Ministry and the other relevant authorities, was held on Wednesday (3) at the Ministry. Speaking during the discussion, Amaraweera said that the Government's intention is to prepare a Policy that does not undergo changes with the changes of Governments and subject Ministers. In order for such a Policy to be prepared with the ideas and proposals of all the concerned parties, he said that he had given the draft of the said Policy to all 225 MPs. However, he said that it was a matter of regret that only two MPs, namely State Minister Vidura Wickramanayaka and C.B. Ratnayake had submitted their ideas and proposals regarding the Policy. "Our aim is to establish export oriented agriculture in the country and the lack of comments and suggestions regarding this Policy is regrettable."

Speaking further, he said however that proposals and ideas had been presented regarding the said Policy by several other parties. According to him, 250 proposals have been submitted by agriculture related organisations, 150 proposals by Mahaweli based organisations and 21 proposals from the irrigation sector.

Despite the lack of interest among MPs and other concerned parties, Amaraweera said that the drafted Policy would be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers, and then to the Parliament. He predicted that the Policy would be implemented within the course of the next two months after the receipt of the relevant approvals.

Amaraweera had recently instructed the Ministry to appoint a committee consisting former Directors General of Agriculture, Agriculture Ministry Secretaries, university teachers and representatives from other organisations related to agriculture to prepare a National Agriculture Policy.