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Special programme to provide fuel to Yala farmers 

26 May 2022

  • Agri and Power/Energy Ministries take the lead
BY Buddhika Samaraweera In view of the prevailing fuel shortage, the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the Ministry of Power and Energy, has prepared a special programme to provide farmers with the fuel that they need for agricultural purposes without any shortage. Speaking to The Morning, an official of the Agriculture Ministry said that a discussion was held on Tuesday (24) with the participation of Minister of Agriculture and Wildlife and Forest Resource Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera, and other relevant officials regarding the preparation of a programme to expedite the release of fuel required for the farmers during the Yala cultivation season. He said that during the discussion, Agriculture Department Director General (DG) Dr. Ajantha de Silva had handed over to Amaraweera a list of 217 filling stations selected for issuing fuel for agricultural activities covering all 25 districts.  According to the said official, farmers can obtain the required quantity of fuel in containers from the relevant authorised filling stations by submitting a letter of approval obtained from the relevant Agrarian Service Centres. “It was decided to continue to issue fuel to the farmers through these filling stations. Accordingly, the Agriculture Ministry requested the Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera in a letter as per the order of Agriculture Minister Amaraweera to ensure the continuous release of fuel to the said list of filling stations.”  He further said that Amaraweera had discussed the matter with Wijesekera and that the latter had agreed to provide even additional fuel required for the Yala season. Due to the lack of foreign exchange reserves required for fuel imports, a severe fuel shortage has arisen in the country. As a result, a problematic situation has arisen regarding the release of fuel into containers. In this backdrop, it has been reported in recent times that farmers are facing severe difficulties in obtaining the fuel needed for agricultural purposes.


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