(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-) The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat. During their meeting, Ambassador Qi made a donation of LKR 30 million (USD 100,000) as emergency flood relief to assist those affected by the recent flooding in the country. In […]
(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-)
The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this afternoon (22) at the Presidential Secretariat. During their meeting, Ambassador Qi made a donation of LKR 30 million (USD 100,000) as emergency flood relief to assist those affected by the recent flooding in the country.
In addition to immediate relief measures, the discussion also extended to a dialogue about long-term flood prevention and management strategies. They discussed sustainable approaches to enhance the resilience of communities against future flooding.
Recent reports indicate that heavy rains have led to significant flooding in several provinces, displacing thousands of families and causing extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-) • Call for Formal Mechanism to Ensure Fair Pricing for Farmers and Consumers • Efforts Underway to Lower Input Costs for Small and Medium Scale Rice Millers – President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated the controlled price of rice will not change. He also highlighted that plans are underway for a long-term […]
(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-)
• Call for Formal Mechanism to Ensure Fair Pricing for Farmers and Consumers
• Efforts Underway to Lower Input Costs for Small and Medium Scale Rice Millers
– President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated the controlled price of rice will not change.
He also highlighted that plans are underway for a long-term program to create an organized agricultural plan, which would provide greater benefits to farmers.
President Dissanayake made these remarks during a discussion held today (22) at the Presidential Secretariat with rice millers and officials from the Department of Agriculture.
During this meeting, participants focused on the current prices of consumer goods, emphasizing the importance of controlling the price of rice, which is a staple food for the population.
The President noted to the rice millers that they had purchased paddy from farmers after the controlled price was established, and he believes it is unfair to alter the price of rice at this stage.
Additionally, he stressed the necessity for a formal mechanism that ensures farmers receive a fair price for their rice while also enabling consumers to purchase rice at a reasonable cost.
President Dissanayake noted that the price of rice has been artificially inflated, attributing this price instability to the long-term lack of enforcement of controlled prices.
During the discussion, the issue of stock hoarders was addressed, and the President instructed agriculture officials to register this group.
The conversation also highlighted the need to reduce input costs to alleviate the financial difficulties faced by small and medium-scale rice mill owners.
Dudley Sirisena, Nipuna Gamlath, Mithrapala Lankeshwara, Jayasiri Gunathilaka, Menaka Gamlath, and other businessmen representing the Rice Mill Owners’ Association, along with several officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, were also present at the meeting.
(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-) • Provincial Councils Should Act to Improve the Living Conditions of the People – Says the President at the Governors Meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the Governors to prepare and submit a new proposal aimed at rationalizing the Provincial Council mechanism. The President also stated that, given the current government’s […]
(-Colombo, October 22, 2024-)
• Provincial Councils Should Act to Improve the Living Conditions of the People
– Says the President at the Governors Meeting
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed the Governors to prepare and submit a new proposal aimed at rationalizing the Provincial Council mechanism.
The President also stated that, given the current government’s transitional period, the provincial councils must strive to deliver the best possible services to improve the living conditions of the people.
President Dissanayake made these remarks during a discussion held with the Governors this morning (22) at the Presidential Secretariat.
He urged the governors to engage in all possible economic and social initiatives to improve the living conditions of the public.
During the meeting, the President also highlighted the importance of establishing a new political culture and reiterated that the trust placed in him by the people should be fulfilled through effective action.
He reminded the Governors to avoid previous poor practices in the use of state assets and to remain committed to delivering quality public service.
Attention was drawn to existing vacancies in the health and education sectors under the Provincial Councils, with decisions made to find viable solutions.
The meeting included discussions on the lands in the Northern and Eastern provinces as well as finance.
Additionally, the President also made inquiries about the allocation of land to farmers in Kantale.
Participating Governors included Nagalingam Vedanayagam from the Northern Province, Champa Janaki Rajaratne from the Sabaragamuwa Province, Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera from the Eastern Province, Kapila Jayasekera from the Uva Province, Bandula Harischandra from the Southern Province, Prof. Sarath Abeykoon from the Central Province, and Wasantha Kumara Wimalasiri from the North Central Province.
(-Colombo, October 18, 2024-) Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne has been appointed as the new Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The official letter of appointment was handed over to him today (18) at the Presidential Secretariat by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake. Additionally, Senior Professor K.L. […]
(-Colombo, October 18, 2024-)
Senior Professor Kapila Seneviratne has been appointed as the new Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The official letter of appointment was handed over to him today (18) at the Presidential Secretariat by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Additionally, Senior Professor K.L. Wasantha Kumara has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman of the UGC. Other members appointed to the Commission include Senior Professors Rahula Athalage, O.G. Dayaratne, Subramaniam Raviraj, and President’s Counsel C.K.W. Unamboowa.
(-Colombo, October 16, 2024-) “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 […]
(-Colombo, October 16, 2024-)
“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.
(-Colombo, October 16, 2024-) Railway improvement projects should accelerate prioritizing Worker and Public Safety President says at the progress review meeting of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that enhancing the efficiency of road development projects is crucial for achieving rural economic development goals. He highlighted the […]
(-Colombo, October 16, 2024-)
Railway improvement projects should accelerate prioritizing Worker and Public Safety
President says at the progress review meeting of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized that enhancing the efficiency of road development projects is crucial for achieving rural economic development goals.
He highlighted the need to streamline the procurement process for these projects, ensuring that local communities benefit rather than allowing contracts to concentrate in the hands of a few.
The President made these remarks during a progress review meeting for the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation held today (16) at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting extensively covered various projects under the ministry, with a particular focus on the construction of the Kadawata-Mirigama section of the Central Expressway.
He underscored the importance of developing ports, airports, and highways for the economic growth of the country, asserting that careful planning of these projects could significantly uplift the national economy.
In executing ongoing road development projects, he called for attention to environmental, financial, and community impacts, urging measures to minimize adverse effects and ensure timely implementation.
Additionally, President Dissanayake instructed officials to prioritize the safety of railway employees and the public in the execution of railway line projects.
Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, along with various officials from affiliated institutions of the ministry, were also present at the meeting.
