Published on: October 16, 2024

A Long-Term Integrated National Program is Essential for Organizing Sri Lankan Agriculture

  • The Primary Objective of Rural Development Projects Must Be to Eradicate Rural Poverty

– President at the Progress Review meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the need for a long-term, unified national plan to organize Sri Lanka’s currently disordered agriculture sector.

He made this statement during a progress review meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources held today (16) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting included extensive discussions on the ongoing projects under the Ministry.

The President reviewed the rural development initiatives completed so far and noted that, despite their success, questions remain about the extent to which these projects have reduced rural poverty.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that the primary objective of rural development projects should be to eradicate rural poverty.

He further pointed out the need for a comprehensive new plan to eliminate poverty nationwide.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also highlighted that poverty extends beyond mere financial hardship; it also involves the marginalization of certain groups within society, constituting a serious social crisis. He underscored the necessity for a targeted program to effectively eradicate rural poverty.

Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, and Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Livestock, Irrigation, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources M. P. N. M. Wickramasinghe, along with Senior Officials of the Ministry, Project Directors and other Officials of the Ministry participated in this discussion.

Mission

The Presidential Media Division is fully responsible for socializing the views, actions, decisions and statements of His Excellency the President through the media. Electronic, print and new media will contribute to this through a credible and engaging approach.

The media department works as a source of information on the subject of the President’s vision and mission by maintaining good coordination with public and private media organizations and journalists.

National policies, plans and measures are explained to the people through the use of high quality media. Identify the fallacies and reveal the truth.