The private sector is to be given the sole responsibility of importing fertiliser for farmers for the next Maha season cultivation starting in September this year while the state will not will be involved in such imports, the Agriculture Ministry announced.
The Finance Ministry has been entrusted with the task for providing some fertiliser subsidy to all farmers under the present stressful situation, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
This will help to prevent alleged corrupt practices of ruling party politicians in importing and distributing fertiliser, he said adding that hereafter no one can points finger at politicians and officials towards this end.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, agriculture experts and officials have warned of a food crisis in the coming months if the new administration fails to find solutions to the dollar crisis.
Food commodity importers recently warned of higher food prices and shortages of food items after the ban on open account and DA/DP transactions with a view to overcoming the forex crisis by raising rates and preventing private credit.
However the Central Bank on Monday announced that it will facilitate the task of providing dollars from banks for food imports following the ban on open account imports. (Bandula)
The UK government has unveiled a package of reforms to simplify imports from developing countries which allows for more garments manufactured in Sri Lanka to enter the UK tariff-free.
Read these and more on tomorrow’s edition of the Sunday Times
Cabinet has approved the appointment of Commodore (retired) M.B.N.A. Premaratne of the Sri Lanka Navy, as the new Commissioner General of Excise.
Villagers in Nirmalapura, Daluwa, Norochcholai today staged a protest over an incident where a group of Navy officials and sailors had assaulted a resident in the area over night, Police said.
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