Environment Minister blames woes of public on politicians, bureacrats

“I experimented with organic farming successfully’

By Ifham Nizam

A senior minister yesterday blamed the economic downturn on politicians as well as public servants, who, he said, had failed to do their job in the 74 years since Independence.

Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said so, addressing an officials meeting at the Ministry of Environment to commence the duties in the New Year 2022.

The pledge of commitment by the public service was read out and religious observances were held at the commencement of the New Year duties.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Anil Jasinghe and other officials were also present.

Amaraweera observed that one out of every 15 people in Sri Lanka was a public servant. “Maybe this year the figure will increase further. The government has decided to confirm 50,000 graduates in service. Also, another 100,000 have been recruited to the public service. Only by strengthening the public service can a country be developed.

“However, the economic development during the past 74 years has not been at a satisfactory level. Politicians are directly responsible for that. I am also responsible for this situation. Also, the per capita debt in our country today is around Rs. 800,000. All this shows that politicians as well as public servants have failed.

We have a big target for 2022. We have to spend Rs. 2000 million. The government gave us more money not because we have money. Therefore, the money has to be used effectively. Last year, some funds were returned to the Treasury because of Covid. It will not happen again this year. We all need to work efficiently.”

The Minister also expressed concern about the Minister of Agriculture complaining that neither the Ministry of Health nor the Ministry of Environment helped him in his organic farming efforts. Denying the charge, he said: “We started organic farming about two years ago. He said he had experimented with organic farming successfully. As the Minister of Agriculture I started organic farming in my paddy field and got a good harvest.

But now it is not easy to get the farmers back to organic farming. Agriculture policies have made people bitter,” he added.

Dr. Anil Jasinghe, the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment said, “We as the Ministry of Environment did a lot of work last year. But there was more we had to do. Therefore, we have been given Rs. 2000 million this year. We must not allow the projects we implement this year to drag on until 2023. All the steps we take this year must be completed within this year.”

“Last year we concluded a programme to identify sensitive ecological zones. We have decided to continue the programme this year as well. We have already identified about 200 sensitive ecological zones.

They should all be completed this year. Therefore, it was our responsibility to prepare all future programmes while protecting the environment as expected by the government, he said.