Prelate urges Agriculture Minister to hear out farmers when taking decisions affecting them

By Ifham Nizam

Chief Prelate of the Malwathu Chapter Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, over the weekend urged Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to have utmost faith in farmers and to hear them out when taking decisions related to the agriculture sector.

Minister Amaraweera on Sunday visited the Chief Prelate at the Malwathu Temple in Kandy and discussed Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector for about 45 minutes.

 The Mahanayake Thera asked the Minister about the rising food prices and food shortages as well as the turmoil in the political field.

The Minister expressing his opinion said that as requested by the prelate, he would work with farmers. “Although I asked the opinions and suggestions of the officials in making decisions for the betterment of agriculture. But the final decision will be taken according to the advice of the experts who deal with the land,” said the Minister of Agriculture.

 “I too always thought our farmers are better experts on the subject. My target is to work with them. I always welcome their suggestions and comments to develop the Agriculture sector,” Minster Amaraweera told the Mahanayake.

 He said that the government is working with utmost dedication to make the upcoming Maha season a success, and has taken steps to provide urea fertiliser and MOP fertiliser required for paddy and maize crops in this season.

The minister also mentioned that the government’s goal is to produce the country’s entire requirement of rice locally, and that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, too, has proposed taking many important decisions for the development of the vital field of agriculture.