Minister lashes out at Agrarian officers

The grow more food campaign would be only a myth as long as the Agrarian Service Centres remain as they are today, said Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage. He said these Centres were used by certain officers for drinking sessions. The minister made these comments when he chaired a meeting at the Kandy Secretariat to discuss the local food production campaign under the ‘Api Wawamu, Rata Nagamu’ concept.

He said certain Agrarian Service officials permitted buildings to come up on paddy fields. Paddy fields, barren or otherwise, should not be permitted to be filled for building purposes, he said. The minister said a classic example was allowing a paddy field in Gampola to be filled to build an international school.

He said that officers of these Centres send false reports and mislead the ministers. The minister added that certain persons were issued permits to use earth moving equipment to fill paddy fields, against Agrarian Service regulations.

He instructed the Agrarian Service officers, divisional officers and research and production assistants to take adequate interest in the food production drive. He said that he would personally inspect the areas with District Secretary Gotabhaya JayaratneThe minister said if fertilizer was not delivered as scheduled then officials should contact Mr. R. Dharmawardene of the Ceylon Fertilizer Corporation on tel.no. 077-3868709.

When contacted by the Kandy Times, Mr. Dharmawardene said all fertilizer requirements in the Central Province have been met.
Central Province Agriculture Minister Jayaratne Dissanayake also addressed the meeting.