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Govt. has reduced allocations for agricultural sector – Ranjith
By Saman Indrajith
The government had reduced budgetary allocations for the ministries of agriculture and irrigation by the 2023 budget, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Ranjith Maddumabandara said in Parliament on Wednesday.Maddumabandara added that the budgetary allocations for constructing roads and defence had increased.
“We should prioritise the agriculture sector. We are facing food shortages and there are serious concerns about the nutrition of our children. If you look at Polonnaruwa, a main agricultural area, malnutrition is on the rise. The cost of production has gone through the roof and the government has imported 700,000 metric tons of rice,” he said.
The SJB MP said that the decision to go organic overnight had led to the collapse of the agriculture sector.
“Farmers need chemical fertiliser, but the government has not been able to provide it. We urge the government to provide fertiliser and other inputs needed by farmers and get agriculture back on track in 2023,” the SJB Mp said.
Maddumabandara said small and medium scale rice mills had been closed down and a few large-scale mills were dominating the paddy and rice markets much to the detriment of the interests of both the farming community and consumers.
“The government does not buy paddy from farmers, but it has enough money to dish out massive loans for large-scale mills. Look at who is importing rice, they get cheap rice from abroad and mix it with Sri Lankan rice and sell it at Rs 220 a kilo. We are also importing corn. The price of chicken, eggs and other meats are prohibitively high. No wonder children are suffering from malnutrition. This is all because of the collapse of our agriculture sector. Even animals are without food,” he said.
The SJB MP said that not many Sri Lankans could afford basic meals, and according to UNICEF 33 percent of Sri Lankans were food insecure. “This includes millions of children.
“When children are malnourished, their development slows, and they will face major health issues. The government will have to spend more money on health in the future to treat them. Farmers are now only making enough for their own consumption. Now, the government wants them to plant ganja. An MP has imported latex, and this will bankrupt rubber farmers. The current minister of agriculture has been holding this post in successive governments. What has he done?” he asked.In response, the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that they had done a number of things to address the issues faced by the farmers.
“Urea has been sent to all main agricultural hubs. We are bringing in fertiliser needed for new growing paddy. Four ships carrying fertilisers will arrive soon. If there is some issue with urea distribution, please tell me. We are giving 50 kilos of fertiliser per hectare. We have also got diesel from China, and we will give it to farmers. By next year, we will be back on track,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
